Migrant service contract extended for Upstate New York

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – The contract between NYC and DocGo, the mobile medical company hired to service migrant placement and care in the state , has ended, however an extension for the Upstate New York program is in place through the remainder of the year.

In an email statement provided to News 8, a DocGo spokesperson says:

“The contract between the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and DocGo for housing of asylum seekers in hotels in Upstate New York has been extended through the end of 2024. This extension is designed to ensure sufficient time to transition and/or close emergency sites as needed and when directed by the City.

DocGo is immensely proud of the exceptional work that our team has accomplished and continues to perform in aiding the City’s response to this unprecedented crisis. At the peak of the crisis, when New York City was seeing over 600 new arrivals each day, the City’s flex housing program provided essential capacity and helped ensure families and children did not have to sleep on the street.

DocGo will continue to provide medical services, case management and other core services to asylum seekers under this contract and other continuing contracts.”

A Monroe County communications official also confirmed the extension through December 2024. Families first were bused to Rochester from NYC+DocGo in August at the height of the crisis downstate. News 8 is told it has been far fewer arrivals each week for some time and there are much more efficient systems now in place.

The Western NY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies is one of the core pillar groups assisting families upon arrival to Rochester. The group acts as a bridge to coordinate and connect individuals and families with the range of services they may need, working alongside around 45 other organizations.

To-date, the coalition has assisted more than 370 individuals since August, with approximately 24 families remaining sheltered at the hotel on State Street.

“In a week, we’re able to get done what most people take months to do. So, on Monday, you know, they arrive we kind of get them settled in, by Tuesday they’re seeing Finger Lakes Health to get health assessment, behavioral assessment, on Wednesdays they are meeting with legal to determine the basis of their case,” says Maria Garcia, Program Director of the Coalition.

Yulieth Cortesano arrived in Rochester via DocGo bus at the end of December. She had been living in New York City for months prior after escaping a potentially deadly domestic abuse situation in her home country of Columbia. She expresses deep gratitude for the welcoming in Rochester, stating there is access to food, transportation, medical needs onsite. Cortesano notes one of her biggest challenges living at the hotel with her two children is no kitchen to cook homemade meals.

“So I have four kids but I brought two of my children with me. One of the main reasons is because my son needed to have medical care and now we’re in the process of obtaining medical care for him. We don’t have the same services in my country so coming here to the United States where I can see that

they can provide the medical and healthcare that he needs. And they also give you the opportunity to grow and study,” Cortesano says, speaking Spanish, translated by Maria Garcia sitting alongside her.

Herano Jean has been living at the hotel for some time, as well. He left his home country of Haiti, currently plagued with gang violence and no active President. Jean and his wife and children will soon be able to relocate in Rochester to more permanent housing.

“He is going to be moving out tomorrow. He secured an apartment with the support of other community agencies,” Garcia translates for Jean.

There are families coming from all across the globe including Venezuela, Haiti, Turkey, Brazil and more.

“Something that we have to keep in mind is that even though that we’re providing services to the community — it’s a distinct community is coming with unfortunately a lot of trauma, a lot of situations that happened to them and we have to train our staff for the different organizations as well in how to be working with this population,” says Irene Sanchez, Executive Director of the WNY Coalition.

Sanchez also explains there are regular safety meetings onsite at the hotel among several partnering agencies including Rochester Police, Rochester Fire, Rochester City School District, among others. National Guard members remain onsite at the hotel, too, for safety precautions.

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