The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has long served low-income community members, including refugees, immigrants and others in the decades of working in communities throughout the country. Through financial capability programs and workforce development, the IRC seeks to enhance the lives of its clients regaining control and rebuilding their lives. The COVID-19 crisis has thrown these working families into financial crisis, causing many to lose their jobs, lower their hours, threatening to cause evictions and overwhelm them with bills.  The U.S. government, within the early months of the crisis, expended trillions of dollars in response through stimulus and relief bills, like the CARES Act. Through special guests from Prosperity Now, the IRC examines the particular vulnerabilities of the clients IRC serves. And both organizations look at how these bills and subsequent policies either protects these clients, provides reliefs from financial crisis, or enhances other public supports.  Additionally, we examine what these bills have left out and who may be left out of the protections offered.  Lastly, we recommend how both community members and service providers can best leverage the benefits availed through these bills.

Available documents & links