- You can apply if you’re over 18, you live in Washington State, you are not eligible for federal stimulus funds or unemployment insurance due to your immigration status, and you’ve experienced difficult times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It’s safe to apply. No information goes to the government, and the public charge rule should not apply.
- You can apply in 15+ different African languages.
Who Can Apply
In order to be eligible for funds you must:
Live in Washington State
You must live in Washington State at the time that you apply, and the money can only be sent to a Washington State address.
Be at least 18 years old
1 - We strive to increase civic engagement through advocacy. You must be 18 at the time that you apply. 3 - We increase 2020 US Census awareness and drive voter registration. 5 - We maintain a healthy relationship with our funders.
Have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
This could include losing hours at work, losing your job, contracting the virus, or caring for a family member who contracted it.
Be ineligible to receive unemployment insurance or federal stimulus funds because of immigration status
Refugees, people granted asylum, COFA migrants, DACA recipients, and other people who have legal authorization to work in the United States are not eligible for this fund.
You can still apply if:
You received funding last time
If you applied to the fund in 2020 or 2021, you can apply again for more funding—whether or not you received funding last time.
Others in your household have applied
Everyone who is eligible for the fund and is over 18 can apply. Each person in a household must complete their own individual application.
How to Apply
You can apply online now in 14 different African languages.
The application should take about 20 minutes to an hour to complete.
Documents You’ll Need
To apply, you will need to have a clear picture or PDF copy of one of these documents. It cannot be expired, and it must have your full name and your current residential address in Washington State:
your full name and your current residential address in Washington State:
- Washington State identification card
- Washington State driver’s license
- School registration for your children
- Any utility bill, medical bill, or cell phone bill
- Insurance statement
- Bank statement
- 2020 or 2021 tax return
- Pay stub from your employer
- Rent receipt
- Any official government document showing your full name and current Washington State address
If you don’t have one of these documents, you can submit this form instead. Ask someone from a community organization that you currently receive direct services/volunteer/work at or, your landlord, or a religious leader to fill it out and sign it. They will need to get it notarized.
If you need support with your application
Getting Your Money
Payments will be mailed by January 2023.
After you apply, you will receive a confirmation email and text in English or Spanish. You will receive another email and text update when your application is processed.
Between December 2022 and January 2023, you will get an update on whether your application is accepted or not. If you’re accepted, then a check or prepaid card (depending on which option you choose) will be mailed to you.
You can have the payment sent to a different address from your residential address.
Your mailing address could be a P.O. box, or any address where you receive your mail or feel more comfortable receiving it. The mailing address must be in Washington State.
Safety and More Info
The government will not see your information.
No personal information in your application will ever be voluntarily shared with the government, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or law enforcement.
The public charge rule should not apply.
This money should not prevent you from getting a green card in the future.
You will not have to pay this money back. It will not affect your taxes.
All payments are made as grants and classified as disaster relief under the IRS. They should not count as taxable income.
The fund is run by immigrant-led community organizations.
The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and dozens of other community organizations help support and manage this fund. You can see them here.
It’s always free to apply.
If someone asks you to pay them to help you fill out the application, it’s a scam. Do not respond to them. You do not need to pay for help in applying for the fund.