Welcome Corp program sponsoring refugees

[Pom]

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/20/us-state-department-new-refugee-program-welcome-corps

“The US state department has announced a new refugee program under which ordinary Americans can financially assist and sponsor refugees seeking resettlement.

On Thursday, the state department revealed the Welcome Corps, a pilot program which will seek to mobilize 10,000 Americans as private sponsors for at least 5,000 refugees in its first year.”

I know folks on the board have done this before, was this kind of matching program not available then? Were your sponsorships through personal connections?

[Deleted]

I’ve never done this, but everyone I know who has done something similar has done it either through their church or through personal connections.

While I’m sure many churches have wonderful intentions, it’s always made me question how many of them are using this opportunity to proselytize to immigrants.

[AJL]

“Together, sponsor groups welcome refugee newcomers by securing and preparing initial housing, greeting refugee newcomers at the airport, enrolling children in school, and helping adults to find employment.”


This sounds a lot like what social workers do.
Signed,
MSW student

(I think this is a good start to a great idea but I have some reservations that I want to think through before sharing them)

[cattledogkisses]

I have no personal experience with refugee resettlement, but when I was young my family sponsored a family who were immigrating from China after the husband was hired at my dad's company. I remember my dad helping with a lot of stuff that we didn't even think of initially, not just finding housing and school, but things like applying for a SSN and learning how to drive and get a driver's license. It was a lot of logistics and stuff to figure out at first, but we formed a great friendship with their family and still keep in touch ~25 years later.

[tarajane]

Some @@@


I've done it in a few capacities. I helped do initial home set ups through a church. I was in charge of a few apartments so we had a list of things they would need and then I'd look for donations through friends, buy nothing facebook groups, etc. Then we'd get an actual address from the refugee organization and we'd get the home set up. We'd also find out more demographics at that point so we'd personalize with age appropriate toys, etc. I also made sure to have tea and Afghan snacks on hand from a local store. This group I worked with was very good about finding out what really works for the Afghans and not doing it their own way (specific tea pots, etc) Another similar church group wasn't so great.

I've also been a sponsor and that was through a local refugee resettlement org. I've been working with my Afghan family over a year now. I've helped with resumes, getting their work permits, signing up for school, etc. They have local family that came here 5 and 7 years ago so they have had an easy time adjusting.

I also found out about a different Afghan family through connections I've made. They have no local support and 5 young boys. I help them mostly by babysitting the younger boys when there are dr appointments, grocery shopping, etc.

I've been looking into the Welcome Corps but currently they aren't doing Afghan families.

The resettlement agency I worked with was very overwhelmed with the need. I'm not sure if things have settled down for them at this point. I believe Canada has a similar program.