DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS FOR frontline WORKERS DURING COVID
Alia Cares distributes emergency cash to marginalized workers impacted by COVID-19.
When the coronavirus pandemic shut down the US economy, NDWA began raising money to help domestic workers - who were losing work at devastating rates - through the Coronavirus Care Fund. The fund had an initial goal of $4 million, but raised more than $30 million for domestic workers experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Distributing these funds to domestic workers was a considerable problem to solve. Domestic workers - many of whom are immigrants - work in the shadows of the economy, are often unbanked, and due to a history of being targeted by scams they can be distrustful of offers of assistance.
NDWA Labs had previously solved cash distribution to domestic workers for Alia Benefits’ Paid Time Off product, which enables domestic workers to take time off work when they need to, without losing pay. The Labs used the infrastructure built for Alia Benefits to create Alia Cares, a system to administer the distribution of funds raised through the Coronavirus Care Fund.
But NDWA wasn’t the only organization raising funds for workers who were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and excluded from economic relief programs. The City of Philadelphia asked NDWA Labs to administer the distribution of funds it had raised through the Philadelphia Worker Relief Fund, followed by the City of Tucson’s We Are One | Somos Uno Immigrant Relief Fund. NDWA Labs has also been consulted by other cities looking to learn about the success of these direct cash relief programs.
We were able to rapidly respond to the need for a cash distribution program for marginalized workers with the support of a Google.org Fellowship, which included 7 Google.org Fellows working full-time for 6 months with the NDWA Labs team to build out the Alia Cares system. Google.org has been a supporter of NDWA Labs and Alia Benefits since 2017.
The Alia Cares infrastructure is an open source solution. To learn more, contact us at support@aliacares.org.
coronavirus care fund
National
Alia Cares is the distribution system for the Coronavirus Care Fund, established by the National Domestic Workers Alliance to provide emergency assistance for home care workers, nannies and house cleaners. Domestic workers are on the frontlines of the outbreak, caring for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus like seniors and people with chronic illnesses. They are also caring for the children of essential workers like health care professionals. As a result, many domestic workers, especially home care workers, are unable to self-isolate or practice social distancing. Those who do stay home, face another challenge; as low-wage workers without a safety net or paid time off, they are hit the hardest by any national crisis, including this pandemic.
Qualified workers receive $400, distributed by Alia Cares, to support them in staying safe and staying home to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to care for themselves and their families.
Read about this project in Ms. Magazine and Philanthropy Women.
“I have three kids -- all with pre-existing conditions -- that I’m now homeschooling. I’m not able to nanny or drive for Lyft at all, so I’m just at home.This fund has been a big break for me and my children. I’ve gotten emotional support, not just financial support from being checked-on by NDWA. I used the money from the fund to catch up on bills and get some groceries for my family. I’m so grateful.”
- Alicia C., Atlanta, GA.
Philadelphia Worker Relief Fund
Philadelphia, PA
Alia Cares was contracted by The City of Philadelphia to distribute more than $1.6 million raised through the Philadelphia Worker Relief Fund. The City of Philadelphia partnered with local and national philanthropic partners, and 14 trusted community-based organizations to raise cash relief to be awarded to essential workers who were left out of economic relief efforts, serving in positions such as domestic and care workers, farmworkers, home health aides, and food delivery workers.
In total, 2,162 workers received $800 prepaid cards, distributed by Alia Cares.
75% of awardees had a household income of less than $20,000
68% of awardees were Black or Latinx
45% of awardees had three or four members in their household.
The impact of the initiative has been documented in the Philadelphia Worker Relief Fund Report.
Read about this project in BillyPenn and Generocity.
“Before COVID I could not work. I was babysitting here and there. No one called me to babysit their kids due to COVID-19. I had no income. I cannot apply for food stamps. This fund is a lifesaver. I did not have any money left and didn’t know what I was going to do. I paid my rent, purchased food and sent some money to Haiti for my mother who does not work. She depends on me. When I received the money I cried. Thank you and thank you!”
- M.A., Caregiver, Haitian American Voice
We Are One | Somos Uno Immigrant Relief Fund
Tucson, AZ
Alia Cares distributed $1.25 million raised by The Sunnyside Foundation for the We Are One | Somos Uno - Immigrant Relief Fund, which was established to provide immediate and long-term support to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donations will provide aid to immigrant communities in the City of Tucson and South Tucson who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic yet are largely excluded from federal relief, such as individuals who were not eligible to receive CARES Act stimulus checks, and who face additional barriers to other safety net program benefits.
Sunnyside Foundation and the City of Tucson worked with Alia Care to distribute the funds.
Read about this project in This Is Tucson.
