Hispanic communities have felt the wave effects of 9/11, as well.  The Atlantic District’s Hugo Berger works with the Hispanic community in Inwood.  Two people in his congregation attempted suicide because of the effects of 9/11, and many more are depressed.  Mental health problems are exacerbated by separation from family and friends who remain in Latin America, and the inability to stabilize households without lucrative employment.  The Loving Care Group, food pantries, and ESL classes have helped to alleviate the burden on immigrant families.  Hugo estimates that 60 people per week come to the St. Matthew’s food pantry, which began after 9/11.

In recent months, Mt. Sinai’s WTC Health Effects Treatment Program has presented cases at the Unmet Needs Roundtable.  Mt. Sinai estimates that 40% of the 10,000 people screened for Ground Zero-related health problems are foreign-born.  Caseworkers from the hospital have advocated on behalf of their clients, former recovery and asbestos abatement workers, and predominantly Hispanic immigrants.  Many of these clients from South and Central America worked cleaning buildings in Lower Manhattan for months after the attacks.  Their subsequent health problems include sinusitis, GERD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and chronic rhinitis.  Several are partially or completely disabled, and of those with legal status who seek Workers’ Compensation or SSI/SSD, most have received only minimal assistance in the past few years because of backlogs and red-tape in the system.  Those Hispanic recovery workers who are undocumented are ineligible for any federal aid, and turn to the faith community for guidance and basic needs.