Operational Update
As you can imagine, RILA faced difficult decisions this week about how to provide legal services to our clients while protecting the health of our clients, staff and volunteers. Earlier this week, courts were still open with final asylum hearings set to move forward. So we decided to hold the clinic in order to meet the deadlines of upcoming hearings, as well as deadlines for clients’ initial asylum applications.
Ahead of the clinic, we rescheduled meetings where we could. A church group delivered packaged meals in individual serving containers, which clients could take “to go.” Volunteers worked hard at disinfecting tables, doorknobs and faucets before and after each meeting. Rather than sharing a meal together in the church fellowship hall, clients and volunteers went straight to their meeting rooms. Most of our interpreters provided their services remotely over the phone. We were able to offer our clients some canned goods thanks to the generosity of Restoration Anglican Church and local donors. And of course, there was a lot of hand-washing. We can't thank our resourceful team of volunteers enough!
We are evaluating how to proceed with client meetings going forward and are committed to limited face-to-face meetings with individual clients rather than holding our Wednesday evening clinics. Just the morning before we held clinic this week, we learned that all hearings for immigrants not in detention through April 10 have been canceled, but the situation remains fluid. We still have several hearings scheduled for late April and May that we must prepare for. Given the hours of preparation leading up to each hearing, it would be difficult to delay all our meetings with clients. And while we are rescheduling some of these meetings or conducting them over the phone, many of these have to be face-to-face. In addition to a language barrier, several of our clients have limited access to privacy and the internet, which are both necessary for virtual meetings. Know that we will be re-evaluating this daily and assure you that should the government guidelines change, we will adjust our plans.
Would you join us in praying:
For the health and protection of our clients: The majority of our clients lack health insurance, and many live in homes where it is impossible to quarantine one family from another. We also have a handful of clients with underlying health issues who are particularly vulnerable. (You can also help one of our clients who’s currently having problems getting basic supplies by ordering from this Amazon Wish List.)
For the health and protection of our employees and those working in the courts that remain open for the time being.
For the financial provision and support of our clients who rely on schools for their children’s meals and for the clients who are facing lack of employment or reduced wages as a result of the economic uncertainty. Pray also for the clients in need of stable, affordable housing.
