Philly’s new $1.7 million fund helps cash economy workers left out of COVID stimulus

The coronavirus has dealt a crushing blow to the tens of thousands of people who work in the region’s cash economy and were consequently unable to qualify for state and federal stimulus programs. Domestic workers, farmworkers, home health aides, restaurant staff — many were forced to make distressing choices. Do I pay rent or do I put food on the table?

Rodriguez’s family faced an additional blow due to federal immigration laws: despite her husband and son being U.S. citizens, they could not qualify for a federal stimulus check because of Rodriguez’s status as a Mexican citizen.

Rather than fall victim to her circumstances, Rodriguez got working with her community to fight back.

She and other members of the Pennsylvania Domestic Workers Alliance joined organizers to lobby the city. They demanded officials step in and carve out emergency funds to make up for the federal government’s alleged failure. Even after getting a stern “no” from City Hall, they persisted, fundraising from outside sources and working with elected officials on a solution.