People who are in New York City illegally are getting $5,000 in handouts and gift cards to help them rent their own homes in the city’s overpriced housing market.
Even though the government has let more than 200,000 migrants into the city, the Asylee Moveout Assistance funds are not going to poor Americans or even young Americans who want to move there. This is because of the high cost of living in the city.
A New York news site called Gothamist said that the funds have been given to 150 foreign families and pregnant women so far.
A spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Homeless Services told Gothamist, “We look forward to helping more families while we look at how well the test worked and whether it would be possible to scale up and make this kind of help more available to more people.”
“[Spokesman Neha] Sharma said that migrant families who find housing can get one-time handouts of up to $4,000 to help pay for moving costs, security fees, first and last months’ rent, and other household items. … Families also get gift cards worth up to $1,000 that they can use to buy things they need for the house. Moving companies, landlords, and other stores are paid directly,” she said.
Similar housing giveaways to foreigners are popular in Chicago, Colorado, and other places where business and Democratic leaders want to bring in and keep more illegal and legal immigrants.
In theory, Americans in New York City can get the same service. Americans are stuck, though, because the city’s rules say they have to apply for and get approval for the rental check during the short time when an apartment is for rent.
The city already spends a lot on shelters and hotel rooms—$372 a night for 65,000 migrants. The city plans to borrow a total of $12 billion to help the foreign population.
Real estate investors in the city have made a lot of money thanks to the newcomers. It has caused rents to go up for young Americans all over the city and brought in at least $2.2 billion in taxes for them.
Some officials in the city have reported that President Biden’s influx of migrants is making the costs to taxpayers go through the roof.
