The real issue here is the lack of outreach efforts to minority communities. Just as we saw with the vaccination efforts for COVID-19, older and non-white people don’t have the same access to information, the ability to access applications and/or the knowhow to navigate an increasingly Internet-based system of communications.
To remedy this, you need boots on the ground going door to door and actually helping people complete an application, perhaps just explaining the process and then standing there and getting their information into a system via the phone or online.
The other activity is connecting with the unofficial community leaders in these minority populations and helping them to have the information they need to get it into their circle of relationships. Many times this can be local churches as one conduit.
You can’t sit back and issue a news release and expect that everyone has the same ability to access the benefits they are due as disaster victims and survivors — and call that “equal opportunity.”
