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Resettlement
Who are Refugees?
The 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, as amended by its 1967 protocol defines a refugee as a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country..."
Refugees come to our office from countries all over the world, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Burma, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the former Soviet Union.
What does the IRC do for refugees (clients) when they arrive in the United States?
In the first 90 days, the IRC
- Locates and furnishes safe, suitable housing
- Meets client as they arrive from the airport and ensures they have clothing and food
- Provides an orientation on safety, life in the United States, the community, and employment
- Makes sure families get health screenings and immunization
- Enrolls children in school
- Ensures clients apply for social security, Medicare/Medicaid, and food stamps
- Refers clients to English classes
- Offers basic cash assistance
- Develops a resettlement plan for becoming self sufficient
- Provides job readiness training and offers employment assistance
- Helps find first job
- Provides transportation and instructs clients on use of public transportation
In the first 8 months, the IRC
- Provides on-going job help and training
- Offers assistance with job-upgrades after six months
- Enrolls clients in cash-assistance program
- Provides on-going case management
- Coordinates volunteers to help with cultural orientation, tutoring, etc.
- Helps clients fill out paper work to promote the resettlement of family members
To Learn how you can help in the Resettlement Process, click here
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