At the start of the pandemic, Natasha Cid was devastated when she was laid off from her dental assistant job of 13 years.

“First of all, I cry," she said. "I was crying like crazy because it’s like, 'What can I do?'”

Cid is an immigrant who lacks permanent legal status, so she gets no support through New York state’s unemployment insurance program. She said it’s been difficult trying to get back on her feet. She’s had to move in with her daughter to keep a roof over her head.

“My bills, my rent, my food, my own food, nobody else, my own," Cid said. "It was crazy and very difficult. The first time I remember, I just start crying. I said, 'What’s my job? What can I do?”' There’s so many ideas. Even when you think, it’s better to not be here.”

Workers' rights activists are pushing for more people to be eligible for help under the Unemployment Bridge Program. The program would extend benefits to freelancers, domestic workers, formerly incarcerated people and immigrants.

A report from the Immigration Research Initiative found 750,000 workers statewide would benefit from the program.

Daniel Atonna, the political coordinator for grassroots group For The Many, said they’ll advocate for the bill’s passage. The bill has the support of Democrats in the state Legislature.

“These people are part of our state," Atonna said. "They're a huge part of our economy. And so making sure that they have the same protections everyone else has, that shouldn't be a controversial thing.”

Spectrum News 1 reached out to GOP leaders at the State Capitol but did not hear back. While previously speaking to Spectrum News 1, Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt said his opposition to the bill is due, in part, to migrants receiving benefits.

As a volunteer with For The Many, Cid said she’ll help push for the bill’s passage, because she knows what it’s like when overlooked workers get left out.

“Congress and other people need to get this to reality," she said. "People right now are suffering a lot.”