Resources by librarians – for everyone
Provides free support to those seeking asylum in the U.S. and Canada. Services include housing, food, clothing, legal aid, medical care, mental health care, English as a Second Language classes, education, job training, recreation, transportation, and offsite housing after asylum is gained. Located in Detroit, MI; hours and contact information available on website.
https://www.freedomhousedetroit.org/index.php/services
Direct link to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Michigan listing of refugee service agencies. Includes addresses and telephone numbers.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/state-of-michigan-programs-and-services-by-locality
Catholic Charities of Oregon provides Refugee Resettlement services in the Portland area, including assistance with basic needs, school enrollment and referrals to other service providers, and community orientation.
The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) serves the holistic needs of immigrants, refugees, and mainstream community members in Oregon and SW Washington. As a community-based organization, we empower children, youth, families and elders from around the world to build new lives and become self-sufficient by providing more than 150 culturally and linguistically specific social services. Services include employment and training, case management, tutoring and mentoring, language services, community development, senior services, and more.
Our vision is to be a leader of community driven, innovative programs delivered by compassionate staff who create equitable services that empower immigrants, refugees and underserved communities.
The goal of Virginia’s Refugee Resettlement Program is to help refugees and their families gain economic self-sufficiency and social integration into their communities. Website details benefits and social services available around the state of Virginia.
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.
The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees (MVRCR) assists refugees and immigrants, and individuals with limited English proficiency. MVRCR is partially accredited by the US Department of Justice and thereby authorized to represent clients before US Citizenship and Immigration Services and to complete immigration forms on clients’ behalf. MVRCR provides advocacy, counseling, information, processing, and referrals for citizenship and immigration issues. It has a refugee resettlement program in Utica that has resettled more than 15,000 individuals in the city since 1981.
The organization also provides interpretation and translation services and training in cultural competency (for interactions involving health care, education, government services, and more).
MVRCR seeks to help its clients achieve independence and self-sufficiency.
Catholic Community Services of Souther Arizona provides resettlement assistance through transitional housing, short-term financial aid, transportation, English language classes, and job readiness training.
https://www.ccs-soaz.org/services/detail/migration-and-refugee-services
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.
St. Vincent Catholic Charities helps resettle refugees in the Lansing, Michigan and mid-Michigan areas. Services include locating affordable housing and providing food and basic necessities, as well as offering assistance with transportation, financial literacy, school enrollment, employment, and more. Refugee Services can also assist with applying for documents and U.S. State Department programs.