Refugee Resettlement
adjusting to life in a new culture

The best way you and your congregation can help bring new life and hope to refugees is through sponsorship. Details can be found on our sponsorship page which lists the details.

What are a sponsor's primary responsibilities?

Refugee sponsors have three general responsibilities. They act as guides, friends, and advocates to the new arrivals. In all cases the sponsor's overall goal is to assist refugees to become self-sufficient as soon as possible.

As guides, sponsors supplies initial needs such as clothing, food and housing. They further assist with such things as Social Security, job applications, English, and other procedures which are required.

As friends they offer encouragement, respect, and emotional support.

As advocates sponsors protect refugees from exploitation and discrimination. They can also help the refugee contact other refugees and community sources of support.

Who can sponsors look to for guidance and assistance?

From the day a congregation decides to sponsor a refugee it works in partnership with a local affiliate of the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program, usually with an Ecumenical Refugee Resettlement and Sponsorship Services (ERRSS) office. Every sponsor receives a copy of the Manual for Refugee Sponsorship which details important sponsorship information and serves as a reference guide.

What will sponsorship cost?

A congregation which sponsors refugees pools its resources to provide for refugees so that sponsorship does not entail significant cost to any individual. ERRSS and the sponsoring denomination also provide support for the resettlement process.