Standing Firm for Families: Emergency Funds for Immigrant Families

If you or a family you know is facing an urgent crisis due to immigration-related hardship, help may be available. FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is continuing emergency financial support through the Standing Firm for Families initiative to help families with young children navigate immediate challenges and maintain stability. 

When a family can’t afford essentials like rent, utilities, or food, the impact reaches far beyond the immediate crisis. Financial stress can disrupt a child’s sense of safety, stability, and healthy development during the most critical early years of life. This emergency support is designed to provide timely assistance that helps families meet urgent basic needs, reduce hardship, and protect the well-being of young children. 

Thanks to the help of our partner, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, we’ve already provided $75,000 in emergency grants to 44 families, and we have nearly $100,000 more to give. 

Rapid Support When Families Need It Most 

The emergency funds program is designed to provide timely financial support to Santa Clara County families with young children who are facing immediate hardship related to immigration-related challenges. 

These funds can help stabilize families experiencing urgent basic needs such as: 

• Rent or housing instability 

• Utility shutoff risk 

• Food insecurity 

• Other essential emergency needs 

For families with children in the earliest years of life, stability matters deeply. Financial stress and crisis can disrupt healthy development, routines, and overall family well-being. Emergency support can help prevent a temporary hardship from becoming a deeper crisis. 

Who Is Eligible? 

Families must meet all of the following criteria: 

• Live in Santa Clara County 

• Have a child prenatal through age 5 

• Have experienced an immigration-related hardship after January 1, 2025 

• Have a current emergency basic need (rent, utilities, food, or other urgent essentials) 

How to Refer a Family 

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is partnering with Catholic Charities to help connect eligible families with emergency assistance. 

If you are a provider, educator, case manager, community partner, or are working with a family who meets the criteria, please make a referral directly to: 

Catholic Charities 

Contact: Maria Garcia-Serrano 

Email: standingstrong@ccscc.org 

Subject Line: Standing Firm for Families 

Please include: 

• Family’s name 

• A brief description of the emergency need 

• Your contact information for follow-up 

About Standing Firm for Families 

Standing Firm for Families is FIRST 5 Santa Clara County’s broader initiative to support young children and families facing extraordinary challenges. Launched as a $1 million investment, the initiative was originally created in response to urgent needs impacting immigrant families and has continued to evolve as families face rising costs and growing pressure on essential support systems. 

The initiative focuses on three key areas: 

• Workforce Wellness: Supporting frontline professionals who serve children and families, recognizing that strong caregivers and service providers help build stronger communities. 

• Family Preparedness: Helping families strengthen resilience, stability, and readiness for future challenges so children can continue to grow in safe, secure environments. 

• Emergency Funds: Providing rapid financial assistance to help families weather immediate crises and protect the well-being of young children. 

By investing in trusted community partners with the expertise and infrastructure to deliver support, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is helping ensure families receive timely help while building stronger systems of care for the future. 

Because when families stand firm, children have the foundation they need to thrive.