NYC's $53M Pre-Paid Credit Card Program for Migrant Families

New York City plans to launch a $53 million pilot program to provide pre-paid credit cards to 500 migrant families housed in hotels, allowing them to purchase food and baby supplies. The program aims to replace the current food service and is expected to save the city over $600,000 per month. The pre-paid cards can only be used at specific stores, and recipients must sign an affidavit stating they will only spend the funds on essential items. If successful, the program may be expanded to all 15,000 migrant families staying in hotels. The initiative comes as New York City grapples with the arrival of over 150,000 migrants since 2022, with Mayor Eric Adams calling it a humanitarian crisis and estimating a $12 billion cost over three years.