New York City is rolling out a pilot program to give migrants prepaid debit cards to be used exclusively at bodegas, supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores. As CBS News reports, the program is estimated to save the city $7.2 million annually through a partnership with Mobility Capital Finance.
Wole Coaxum, CEO of Mobility Capital Finance, released a statement detailing the program’s aims. “MoCaFi’s goal is to expand access to financial resources for individuals excluded from banking, such as asylum seekers while helping the local economy. It is an honor to be a part of the effort to welcome and support asylum seekers as they begin to plant their roots in this country.”
The program, which will be open to 500 families initially, is, according to City Hall, a “more cost-effective technology pilot program to distribute pre-paid immediate response cards to asylum seekers to purchase food and baby supplies in lieu of the city’s current system of providing non-perishable food boxes to migrant families staying in hotels.”
If the program is successful, Fox 5 NY reports, the program will be expanded to more families. However, not everyone is on board. New York City councilman Joe Borelli accused the program of giving migrants a free ride, saying, “We’re just giving this migrant population more free stuff at the expense of New York City taxpayers.”
Source: New York City To Roll Out Controversial Pilot Program For Migrants To Buy Food Using Prepaid Cards
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