Vive Shelter (a Program of Jericho Road)

Vive is a program of Jericho Road Community Health Center, a nonprofit organization with no connection to the U.S. government. Vive provides shelter and assistance to refugees seeking asylum in Canada. The organization assists adults and families who have an anchor relative in Canada, and unaccompanied minors with parental permission but without anchor relatives, in obtaining asylum. Vive schedules appointments and interviews with the Canada Border Services Agency and houses refugees who are waiting for those appointments or interviews.

Vive charges $100 per week, a fee that includes registration, housing, meals, and access to medical care, legal services, and Wi-Fi. For taxi services to and from appointments with Canadian Border services, Vive charges $30 on the day of the appointment or interview.

The website provides a list of suggested documents, contains special information for children, and explains who Canada considers to be an “anchor relative” for purposes of asylum.

http://www.jrchc.org/vive/information-for-asylum-seekers/

Samaritas

Samaritas offers housing placement, medical case management, English classes, school enrollment, employment services, and counseling for issues including torture. The organization also connects unaccompanied refugee minors with foster and host families. Samaritas also provides a repatriation program, assisting with reception, housing placement, financial assistance, food, transportation, referral to medical/psychiatric evaluation, treatment.

https://www.samaritas.org/New-Americans/Resettlement

Bethany Christian Services – Refugee and Immigrant Services

Helps with refugee resettlement efforts in West Michigan, including pairing unaccompanied minors with foster families. Offers a transitional living facility for youths, as well as employment services, English language classes, transportation assistance, and mentoring opportunities. Additionally, provides counseling for victims of trauma, including coordinating medical and legal services.

American citizens may also find information on how to support these efforts, and can learn more about the refugee crisis in the Middle East.

Website includes contact form, phone number, and address.

https://www.bethany.org/other-services/refugee-and-immigrant-services

English Language Services and Basic Skills Refugee Youth Project

The Refugee Youth Project (RYP) helps school-aged youth develop the knowledge and skills required for academic success and positive integration. Programs include after-school, summer school, individual mentoring, college access mentoring, and community arts. After-school programs focus on homework help, social skills, and building and improving English language skills. RYP partners with local colleges, universities, and high schools to recruit more than 250 volunteers each year. Volunteers play a crucial role in providing extra academic support and guidance to youth participants. Funding for RYP is provided through the generous support of the Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA), as well as supplemental grant and fundraising dollars. All RYP program services are FREE for participating students.

Website includes program information, news items about the program, volunteer opportunities, and additional resources.

http://www.refugeeyouthproject.org/

Arizona Immigrant and Refugee Services

Provides refugees and legal immigrants with shelter, food, clothing, employment training & assistance, English language classes, translation, and referrals. Also provides help with relative petitions, citizenship, permanent residency, replacement of lost or stolen documents, special protected status deferred enforced departure, and family unification.

https://airsaz.org/

CUNY Citizenship Now!

CUNY Citizenship Now! provides free, high quality, and confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families on their path to U.S. citizenship. The organization has 40 locations across New York City. Its attorneys and paralegals offer one-on-one consultations to assess participants’ eligibility for legal benefits and assist them in applying when qualified.

The website lists the immigration issues handled by by CUNY Citizenship Now! They include many routine and complex issues apart from employment-related cases such as visas (immigrant or nonimmigrant, including H1B and the like) or employment related adjustment of status, change of status, or extension of status.

At an Immigration Rights Workshop in Queens, NYC Legal Aid attorneys mentioned this organization as an excellent resource for free legal help in an environment where many pro bono legal organizations suddenly have a big backlog.

CUNY Citizenship Now! Is actively soliciting volunteers.

Languages: English, Spanish