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Maritza Maldonado holds a photo of her sister Miriam (left), who died from COVID-19 complications last May.
(Beth LaBerge/KQED)
A new federal program offering help with funeral expenses to families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 may not reach some of those who need it most, advocates say. They believe many eligible people, particularly in California’s hard-hit Latino communities, might be reluctant to apply out of fear their information will be shared with immigration authorities.
'The problem is that our folks who need it the most won’t access that [aid], period. People are fearful of the government.'