The Silver Lining Foundation
AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) April 08, 2020
There are nearly 11 million undocumented Americans in our country today, of which around 15 percent live in my home state of Texas.
The $2 trillion dollar bill just signed into law provides zero assistance to these people. Most live paycheck to paycheck and have no savings to tie them over through the Coronavirus crisis. Many did not stock up on food and supplies to weather the lockdown not because they did not want to, but simply because they could not afford to.
It is understandable that some do not wish to financially or otherwise reward people who have entered this country illegally. However, not providing financial assistance during these trying times to over three percent of the population of our country is unconscionable and will have dire consequences for us all.
Given the choice to go hungry or go back to work, sick or not, they will go back to work, risking their health and the health of other Americans. These are the people who prepare food and wash dishes at restaurants, clean hotels, houses and schools. Many are parents to documented, American-born U.S. citizens. They support the American economy and pay sales taxes. The safety net extended to the rest of America needs to reach a little farther. It needs to reach these hard-working individuals and their children, not just for their sake, but for the sake, health and safety of all Americans, documented or otherwise.
The Silver Lining Foundation urges all fellow citizens, community leaders, religious groups, local, state and federal government officials to consider the ramifications of failing to support 11 million of the poorest people in America. We urge them to find ways to get financial, food, mortgage/rental payment and other critically needed assistance to the most vulnerable portion of our population. Helping them is the right thing to do. It is right for them and it is right for America. Time is of the essence. We must act now.
For more information and links to valuable resources, please visit https://the-silver-lining-foundation.org/resources/.
About the author: For nearly half of his life, Mr. Turner has focused his career on providing clean, safe, affordable, energy efficient housing for low income persons and families. Most of his tenants are first and second generation Mexican and Latin Americans. He raised his three children bilingual alongside an immigrant family from Mexico. He knows firsthand the honest and family-oriented nature of these hard-working people. In 2010 he formed The Silver Lining Foundation, a 501(c)3 dedicated to helping disaster victims.
Michael Turner
Austin, Texas
mturner@the-silver-lining-foundation.org
Available for interview