At the New York Regional Resettlement Office, we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive package of services to refugees. Funded by foundations, corporate and individual donors, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Matching Grant/Self-Sufficiency Program aims to move refugees into paid jobs within as short a period as possible, generally within 4 months. This year, the program will help some 150 individuals in their adjustment to life in New York , allowing them to support themselves and their families without dependence on public assistance.

Through the program, we provide an integrated, complete core of services for newly arrived refugees.

Upon their arrival, refugee families are met at the airport by their case manager and are taken to their new apartment, which has been furnished with basic necessities - a place setting for each family member, a kitchen table and chairs, sofa, bed and sheets. IRC provides these items, in addition to clothing, since refugees often arrive in New York with only one or two changes of clothes.

Case managers and clients then work together to develop a personalized resettlement plan. They arrange for English language training classes; link refugees with volunteer tutors, job development volunteers, and family mentors; and provide weekly cash that buys food, clothing, suitable housing, and subway and buss passes. Case managers, employment specialists, and volunteers also work to find employment for all employable members through a combination of job training and outreach to build relationships with employers. The job placement process may involve English language training, enrollment in a job-training program, assistance in filling out job applications and resumes, and mentoring. After job placement, IRC staff provide post-placement support, helping refugees to move into higher-wage positions. By providing these basic services, we preclude our clients' reliance on public cash assistance, while easing and encouraging the resettlement process.

The IRC has developed relationships with local employers who have tapped into the highly motivated workforce of refugees. Employment coordinators and volunteers also provide outreach to local employers, expanding the network of employers and employment sectors eager to hire newly arrived refugees. If you are an employer interested in learning more about working with IRC Employment Specialists about hiring refugees, please contact Teuta Selimi (teuta@theIRC.org).