County offers resources for ag workers amid pandemic
As part of an effort to protect vulnerable workforces and communities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yolo County is providing resources, including translations and temporary housing, for agricultural workers who test positive or have been exposed to the virus.
According to a press release from the county, $50,000 of CARES Act funding have been set aside to help farm and food workers who have lost income as a result of being COVID-19 positive and who are unable to obtain State Disability or Worker’s Compensation from their employer.
Qualified workers can receive up to $500 a week for up to two weeks and can be paid retroactively to last July 1.
“It’s hard to imagine a more truly essential worker than those who harvest our food,” Chairman of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors Gary Sandy stated. “The COVID-19 crisis has cruelly impacted farmworkers more adversely than the remainder of the population. Responding to their needs has required pulling together an array of services designed to safeguard and to anticipate the emerging needs of this vulnerable population.”
The county recently added a Spanish translation to their COVID-19 Report a Concern webpage, which offers the public with the opportunity to express concerns regarding COVID-19 safety. According to the release, farmworkers may use this to inform the county about unsafe working conditions or a lack of resources.
The county is also participating in Housing for Harvest, a state program that offers temporary hotel housing to agricultural workers who need to isolate due to COVID-19.
“This program helps positive or exposed workers protect their loved ones and coworkers by giving them a space to self-isolate,” Public Information Officer Jenny Tan stated. “Farm and food processing workers play an essential role in maintaining the local and regional food supply.”
The county encourages both workers and residents to take advantage of free COVID-19 testing sites that are available throughout the county.
For additional information about agricultural worker programs, contact Esmeralda Garza at esmeralda.garza@yolocounty.org or call (530) 379-3465. Residents can also call the county’s free COVID-19 hotline at (866) 965-6268 for assistance in English or Spanish.