ESONA Awarded $4,600 Grant from LA CD13 for Afghan Dignity & Safety Clinics

We’re excited to share a huge step forward for ESONA’s work in Los Angeles: Council District 13 has approved $4,600 in funding to support ESONA Relief Fund’s Afghan Dignity & Safety Clinics (CD13).

The approval letter came from David Mai, Senior Contracts and Administrative Deputy, on behalf of Council District 13 and Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez’s Office. We’re extremely grateful for the district’s partnership in supporting Afghan neighbors across CD13.

So, what will this grant will make possible?

With CD13’s support, ESONA will host three Afghan Dignity & Safety Clinics at public libraries within the specified districts below:

• Echo Park Branch Library

• Frances Howard Goldwyn – Hollywood Regional Library

• Los Feliz Branch Library

Over the course of 90 days?

Over the course of 90 days, we expect to serve around 1,800 residents across Los Angeles County, with a concentrated effort on Afghan neighbors in CD13. Our targets include:

• 650+ legal screenings

• 300+ public benefit enrollments filed

• 200+ tenant/wage cases opened

• 150+ safety plans completed

• 2,000+ transit trips enabled for thos w/out transportation

Further more, we've committed to sourcing printing and any other necessary resources from small/local CD13 businesses, to keep City dollars circulating within the district.

To CD13, Councilmember Soto-Martínez’s office, and the staff who made this possible, thank you for investing in safety, lawful work, housing stability, and equitable access to services for Afghan community members.

If you’re in Los Angeles and want to volunteer, partner, or help spread the word once clinic dates are announced, we’ll share updates through esonafund.org and @esonafund.