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Fish Program immigration

Tony E. Madison

31/10/2023 17:10

In which borough should your idea take place?: Manhattan
Do you have a specific neighborhood(s) in mind?: Where property can be secured
Which audience(s) does your idea help? Select as many as apply.: Limited English proficient individuals

Unemployed individuals

Immigrants and/or migrants
Describe the challenge you want to address:: Assisting the immigrant population with settlement
Describe your idea and approach to address the challenge:: Purpose: I am sending this proposal to inform you of "The Fish Program," a plan designed to address the core issues of homelessness/Immigrations Training by providing dormitory-style housing, education and training in construction and allied industries, and ultimately, employment that will offer an opportunity to being productive members of society. Although this Program initially focused on the displaced, it would be prudent to consider the newly released from incarceration as well as immigrant people in that category. Problem: as of October 2022, New York City has an immigrant arrival population of over 100,000. Immigrant single adults have increased by …% over the past year. Some single adults sleep in various shelters provided in the City each night. Families and children include another …% of people. The lack of permanent housing is just one of the problems that immigrants face. Employment, particularly among immigrants and single adults, is a critical path to reducing the number of people who live primarily in shelters. Many organizations, operated by the City of New York or private institutions, protect the immigrants. This situation places a burden on City budgets and strains the funding of charitable organizations. The problem is a big one that cries out for a solution. The Fish Program offers housing, education, job training, and employment for Immigrant men and women. The Fish Program's solution places a minimal strain on any budget.* Solution: Through person-to-person contact, The Fish Program will invite members of immigrant communities to participate in an orientation session that will explain the goals, benefits, and expectations of the Program. The Fish Program will have established two programs for its participants: a GED curriculum and a Trade School. Those who require a GED will complete that course of study before being encouraged to continue through the Trade School education—acceptance into the Trade School based on participants' aptitude and interest. Career counseling will be a part of the Program. The trade school's focus will be construction and renovation. Training will be in buildings that are provided explicitly for The Fish Program. These buildings include public and parochial schools that have been closed. Such facilities already possess everything necessary to successfully operate The Fish Program: classrooms, bathrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, and, in some cases, rooms designed for training in various trades. As a training program for immigrants, it will reduce the stigma of those residing there. The Fish Program's other necessary component is housing provision for its participants. Empty classrooms converted into boot-camp-style shelter-like rooms in which the Program's participants will sleep each night. The cafeteria and kitchen will allow three meals daily, of community dining, gyms for necessary recreation, and various small utility rooms for reading and study. Within a few months, the building occupants will have been trained and ready to Work on projects provided by the City, such as the renovation of Public Housing. When adequately supervised, they will continue their training. As they advance, with the help of The Fish Program, the participants will seek employment with companies assigned to assist with the on-the-job training. That will allow them to live independently. The Fish Program will seek another group for community living and training as an ongoing program. COST: The immediate need for The Program is the acquisition of one or two buildings. We expect to acquire premises for our use with the help of City and private organizations. Most importantly, we will look for schools not being used to renovate as training and housing areas for starters. We are allowing the Fish Program to remove the immigrants from the street altogether. Expenses are taken care of under the already allocated funds for housing people experiencing homelessness. The Fish Program will also require funding for the salaries of instructors, counselors, and staff. Additional funds are sought after through philanthropy; we are all in this together, and the elite can play their part in New York's healing. CONCLUSION: The Fish Program will benefit the City of New York and other organizations by reducing immigrant people who rely upon the City and privately run shelters. It will increase and employ skilled workers in the construction and renovation industries. Most importantly, it will prepare those immigrant men and women to become productive members of society, living independent lives. As a note and a point of emphasis, The Program would look to the acceptance of a stipend program where, while in training, there would be a way to provide cash earned through the Program to assist with the ability to sustain themselves and their families.
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