$22 million contract between Jewish Family Services, New York City will move Western New York migrants into apartments

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A contract agreed upon between New York City and Jewish Family Services of Western New York (JFS) announced Wednesday will move over 500 migrants out of Cheektowaga and Amherst hotels, and into apartments throughout Western New York.

"Through this agreement, JFS will provide various services and supports to approximately 539 asylee families and individuals currently in Western New York," says Dr. Molly Carr, CEO of Jewish Family Services of WNY.

"JFS will be working to assimilate these individuals into the community, the first steps of which is to provide them with stable housing which hotels do not provide."

According to New York State Senator Sean Ryan, New York City will be investing $22.4 million in the JFS's Coordinated Entry Program and will cost no money to the local Western New York taxpayer.

"As opposed to paying that private company (DocGo) money to put people in hotels at a cost of $50,000 per year just for the hotel room for one person, they're going to transition that into a full range of services, to allow people to live in the private economy throughout Western New York."

In addition, the asylees will have a choice to move throughout Western New York or go somewhere else if they so choose.

Through the JFS's Coordinated Entry Program, not only will migrants be able to relocate out of hotels, but there will be a variety of assistance available for migrants.

"The JFS team has been working diligently to bring out the to build out the process to screen asylum seekers in order to enroll them as clients into the Coordinated Entry Program," says Carr.

"This will start the process of allocating various allowances for housing, food, personal care items and transportation among other things. Clients will also be assigned a case manager to assist them in enrolling in appropriate services such as English as second language and job placement services."

Other services include class counseling services, household budgeting, family support, peer groups and parenting guidance.

"It's a really big deal for the people who are living in the hotels right now. But it's also really, really good news for Western New York. No one benefits from the uncertainty of people living in hotels. What we can benefit from is allowing these 500 people to be part of our various communities throughout Western New York," added Senator Ryan.

Although the contract is in the works of getting finalized, JFS has plans to move out all migrants living in hotels in Cheektowaga and Amherst within a 9-month timeframe, but Carr notes it may take up to one year.

In addition, Senator Sean Ryan notes that there are no current plans to move migrants in New York City out of New York City.

This program only applies to the migrants who are currently living in hotels in Western New York and the offer does not extend to anyone else.