Brief Safety Net Access in the Context of the Public Charge Rule
Voices of Immigrant Families
Hamutal Bernstein, Sara McTarnaghan, Dulce Gonzalez
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To provide a window into chilling effects resulting from proposed changes to the public charge rule, this brief shares insights from in-depth interviews conducted in March 2019 with 25 adults in immigrant families who reported that they or a family member avoided participating in safety net programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or housing assistance in 2018 because of immigration concerns. The study highlights fear and confusion about the proposed public charge rule, a reliance on the media for information with few people seeking professional advice, and hardship for children and adults after losing access to public supports.
Research and Evidence Health Policy Housing and Communities Family and Financial Well-Being Tax and Income Supports Equity and Community Impact
Expertise Social Safety Net Families Health Care Coverage, Costs, and Access Aging, Medicare, and Long-Term Care Immigration Housing
Tags Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program  Racial and ethnic disparities Immigrant access to the safety net Housing subsidies Social determinants of health Federal, state, and local immigration and integration policy From Safety Net to Solid Ground Immigrant communities and racial equity Racial barriers to accessing the safety net Racial barriers to housing Racial inequities in health Mixed-status immigrant families
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