The IRC has the privilege of being the lead agency at the Suburban Washington Resettlement Center (SWRC). Founded in 2006, SWRC incorporates the IRC, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Catholic Charities Refugee Center, Jewish Social Services Agency, Montgomery College Refugee Training Center, Baltimore City Community College, and the Montgomery County Department of Heath and Human Services, partnered under the Maryland Office of New Americans.
Our partners allow us to offer a wide range of services to our clients, including English classes and certifications for employment and education.
The SWRC also sponsors several programs, including:
- Financial Literacy
- Healthy Families
- Women's Empowerment
- Pre-Employment Training
With an extensive network of service-providers, the SWRC is able to refer clients to mental health services, education, childcare, legal and immigration services, health and special needs services, as well as other non-profits in the area working on social justice issues and human rights.
We are also able to offer the Public Private Partnership, an 8-month assistance program for refugees, victims of trafficking, and asylees.
An Asylee is similar to a refugee, the only difference is that they apply for status once they are in the United States. Like refugees, they must prove to the Government that they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country. Most asylees are unable to afford legal representation and must prove their own case to the immigration court. The asylum process can take months or even years, but once asylum is granted, the IRC has programs to help asylees become self-sufficient. To learn more, please visit our Asylee page.
Partners in the Community
The IRC also has very valuable partners in the community, especially landlords, employers, and volunteers.
Landlords who have partnered with the IRC include KenMil Apartments, Evergreen Terrace Apartments, and Keller Associates in Silver Spring, Maryland. These landlords have helped provide refugees with safe and appropriate housing by working with the IRC and its clients.
Recent employers include 8 O'Clock Coffee and Le Pain Quotidien, who help refugees obtain their first jobs and begin their path to self-sufficiency.
The IRC works with many talented and enthusiastic volunteers. In particular, the members of The McLean Bible Church continue to provide newly arrived refugees with furniture, household items, clothing, and volunteer time.
If you have questions concerning our partnerships, please contact
Kate Evans
301-562-8633 ext. 207
Katherine.Evans@theIRC.org
