Two weeks after approving its Refugee Resettlement Fund supporting Evanston’s refugee population, City Council furthered refugee and immigrant services by allocating $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward Family Focus’ new Welcome Center project.
The Welcome Center would create community education workshops, crisis services, community alliances and a one-stop shop for immigrant and refugee case management, according to a memo sent to City Council. Potential workshops cover the American education system, parenting, financial literacy and governmental rights.
“It’s a good opportunity to have a place to feel welcome and … for our kids (to have) a cultural center,” Clerk Stephanie Mendoza translated for Evanston resident Rocio Mancera. “It would be great to have a place for resources to help Evanston families.”
The Welcoming Center is planned to open in Jan. 2023 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony the following month. Family Focus’ Evanston location was founded in 1976 to promote the well-being of children by supporting them and their families. Mendoza used its programs and said it made her who she is today.
“I myself have benefited a lot from the programs Family Focus has provided and I’m here because of that … from their teen baby nursery to their teen mothers programs to their many tutor services,” Mendoza said. “I look forward to Family Focus continuing to create women like myself and young men who are strong so hopefully this will help do that for all our community members.”
Evanston’s $500,000 will go toward startup and first-year costs, the memo states. The program’s operations will cost $418,540, startup expenses at $60,000 and project planning and community engagement at $21,460.
The program would benefit Evanston’s growing immigrant demographic, city staff said. Evanston’s foreign-born community accounts for 19% of Evanston’s total population, which is above the national rate of 14%. Additionally, Evanston’s Latino population has increased by 34% between 2010 and 2020, according to the United States Census American Community Survey and city staff.
Family Focus anticipates serving 400 people per year with less estimated to take part in the inaugural year. Similar facilities in Aurora, Cicero and Northwest Chicago each anticipate 440 participants by the end of 2022, according to Family Focus.
“I wish my family had a welcoming center like the one we are hoping to open in Evanston,” resident Alejandra Ibanez said. “Illinois has a bold and beautiful tradition of welcoming centers and I can’t wait until we extend that tradition to Evanston where I have returned to raise my children … welcoming centers provide help immigrants and refugees navigate the basic human services many of which, like my family, need as they flee war, poverty and violence.”
While City Council did approve funding, it didn’t come without suggestions and desires. Ald. Bobby Burns would like to see Family Focus collaborate with the Haitian Caucus to help initiate more widespread community engagement and Ald. Clare Kelly would like to see the city create a coordinator position to help facilitate these programs for optimal use.
“I feel we need to have a coordinator for our social safety net services,” Kelly said. “We really need to ensure maximum impact from the millions of dollars spent in many third party (and) in house … in order for us to ensure accountability and impact for our tax dollars … otherwise I fear there’s not a lot of accountability and control.”
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.