Richmond’s immigrant relief program advances with nonprofit funding

(RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA) Richmond moved a long-delayed $1 million immigrant relief initiative into active service this week, naming three nonprofit organizations to deliver legal help, outreach, and emergency aid after months of setbacks. City staff confirmed that East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Catholic Charities East Bay, and the Multicultural Institute will now receive funding to support immigrant residents who face heightened risks from federal enforcement and sudden loss of income. Families affected by recent enforcement activity and rising living costs stand to benefit first as the program begins rolling out services.

Background and timeline

The City Council approved the package in March 2025 amid escalating anxiety over immigration enforcement operations across the region. Officials initially aimed to launch quickly, but the city struggled to secure qualified contractors, which pushed actual disbursement into late 2025. With agreements now in place, service providers can hire staff, set up outreach, and start taking referrals.

City leaders said the emphasis is on keeping families stable in Richmond through targeted immigrant relief that includes both legal defense and short-term financial help.

Funding allocations and intended services

Under the allocations:

• Catholic Charities East Bay receives $394,225 for one year to provide legal services and community outreach.
• East Bay Sanctuary Covenant receives $323,118 over two years for legal services and defense.
• The Multicultural Institute receives $130,000 for one year focused on public awareness and outreach.

Together, the three nonprofit organizations will coordinate:

• Legal screenings and court representation where possible
• “Know-your-rights” education
• Connections to housing and food resources
• Community outreach and public awareness campaigns

The city said the mix of services reflects what local groups have requested for months: direct legal help paired with rapid support for families in crisis.

Emergency financial assistance expanded

That emergency piece became official in October 2025, when the City Council voted to broaden the scope to allow limited financial assistance for immediate needs such as:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Groceries

The change followed reports of residents who lost their main earners after enforcement actions, leaving children and spouses facing eviction or hunger. The expanded authority lets providers issue short-term aid while they work on longer legal strategies, an approach backed by community advocates who warned that court timelines often outlast a family’s savings.

Emergency help will be targeted to Richmond immigrant families who can show a sudden financial shock tied to an enforcement incident or similar emergency.

Providers will prioritize households at risk of homelessness or unable to pay for food or essential utilities. Caseworkers can combine brief financial help with legal consultations to evaluate options that may include removal defense, work authorization questions, or family-based relief. Officials said the goal is to keep families together in Richmond while longer-term solutions are pursued.

Coordination with existing services

The city’s move complements ongoing work by other groups already in the area, including the International Rescue Committee and local social services agencies, which handle broader refugee resettlement and benefits counseling.

Goals of the Richmond-focused funding:

• Shorten wait times for legal and social services
• Reduce the need for residents to travel to Oakland or San Francisco
• Coordinate to avoid duplication of services
• Share data on demand trends (e.g., number of families requesting court representation vs. benefits referrals)

Providers said they will coordinate closely and report progress to the city to track how funds are used and where demand is highest.

Community impact and rationale

The rollout comes amid a tight rental market and rising grocery costs that have hit low-wage immigrant workers especially hard. Service providers described situations such as parents skipping meals to keep lights on, or teenagers entering full-time work after a parent’s detention.

While the program is not large enough to meet every need, city officials believe targeted immigrant relief can:

• Steady the most at-risk households
• Prevent deeper crises that strain schools, shelters, and clinics

The measured approach—modest emergency aid tied to legal pathways—reflects what providers say works in practice when families are under intense stress.

Roles of the funded providers

• East Bay Sanctuary Covenant
  • Focus: screenings, advice, and defense for residents who may qualify for protection or relief in immigration court.
• Catholic Charities East Bay
  • Focus: neighborhood-based intakes and legal workshops held in trusted community spaces.
• The Multicultural Institute
  • Focus: public awareness campaigns to help residents understand available services and how to reach them safely.

Outreach staff will use multilingual materials and in-person channels to reach workers who may be wary of formal settings. The city said all providers will report progress to track usage and demand.

Funding schedule and lessons learned

The funding schedule reflects lessons from earlier city contracts:

• Spreading East Bay Sanctuary’s award over two years aims to sustain a defense pipeline for complex cases without a sudden funding cliff.
• One-year windows for Catholic Charities and The Multicultural Institute are designed to test which outreach and legal triage models gain traction in Richmond neighborhoods.

If the approach works, officials could consider renewals, though any future allocations would require a new Council vote. VisaVerge.com reports that local governments have increasingly tried short-cycle grants to speed urgent services while preserving oversight of public spending.

How residents can find help and avoid scams

For residents who need help finding a trusted legal provider, federal resources also exist. The U.S. government maintains guidance on finding authorized legal assistance and avoiding scams.

• See the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services site’s “Find Legal Services” resource at https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/find-legal-services

City officials say the new Richmond program will emphasize clear, simple messaging so families can spot fraud and know exactly when and where a workshop or clinic is happening.

Practical ripple effects and expected outcomes

City staff noted enforcement actions create ripple effects beyond a single household:

• Schools report sudden drops in attendance when a parent is detained
• Clinics see missed appointments
• Employers lose experienced workers overnight

Stabilizing a family with short-term aid (for example, two weeks of rent or a grocery card) can keep children in school and a parent in court, which matters for legal outcomes and community health. Nonprofit organizations say combined outreach and legal help increase the likelihood families stay engaged and avoid homelessness.

How to get information and next steps

Officials urged residents to watch for announcements as providers set up intake lines and schedule neighborhood events. For general inquiries while the Immigrant Legal Services and Outreach Program becomes fully operational, callers can use:

• 3-1-1
• Customer service center: (804) 646-7212

Staff will direct callers to the appropriate provider based on location, language, and type of help requested. Residents can also check with Social Services for referrals to food pantries, shelters, or rent relief while they await a legal appointment.

Monitoring, metrics, and future considerations

As the first checks go out, Richmond will measure:

1. How many clients receive legal screenings
2. How many cases move forward
3. How emergency funds are distributed

The city will also watch for service gaps—such as childcare during appointments or evening hours for shift workers—that could be addressed in future rounds. Community groups say trust will be the deciding factor: if families see neighbors get safe, real help without risk to privacy, demand will grow; if not, the effort will stall.

For now, the city is betting that a steady, local approach will keep more families housed, fed, and within reach of lawful options when they need them most.