LexRAP Information Session

Transcription

1 LexRAP Information Session

2 Group is Community Based and Includes Residents from Lexington and Surrounding Communities Focus is to Help Refugees and Asylum Seekers Locally Provide a Support Network for Basic Services and Necessities 501(c)(3) Non-profit Led by Steering Committee, Board, and Officers Has Strong Support of Interfaith Community and Members Work with Refugee Agencies that Resettle and Help Refugees and Asylees

3 LexRAP is Natural Extension of Lexington s History of Helping Refugees Over the Last 45 Years 1970s: Lexington Families Welcomed and Housed Russian Refusniks 1980s: Boat People Crisis Lexington Interfaith Community Accepted and Housed 15 Cambodian Families Other Refugees that We ve Helped, Support, and Shelter Include Vietnamese, Bosnian, and Croatian People Fleeing Violence and Oppression

4 Nearly 21.3 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. United Nations High Commission for Refugees

5 Unable or Unwilling to Return for Well-founded Fear of Persecution for Reasons of Race, Religion, Nationality, Political Opinion or Membership in a Particular Social Group Granted Refugee Status Overseas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, after Receiving Refugee Status from the U.N. Brought to U.S. by U.S. State Department for Resettlement Refugees have Access to Wide Range of Federal Programs and Benefits Goal is Resettlement and Integration in the U.S. Refugee Status is not Given to People Seeking only Economic Betterment

6 Most Spend Years in Refugee Camps before Receiving Refugee Designation Refugees are Subject to the Strictest Form of Security Screening of Any Class of Traveler to the U.S. before they are Allowed to Enter: Extensive Background, Security and Health Checks Refugees Pay Back their Flight to U.S. Paid to Resettlement Agency Upon Arrival in U.S., Financial Support Only Lasts for 3 Months Within the 3 Months, they Must: Get Medical Clearance (TB and Vaccinations, etc.) Take Hours of English Get their Children Enrolled in School Apply for Food Stamps and Other Assistance they May Qualify for Get a Job (Month 4 they Pay Rent)

7 Asylees are Individuals Who, On their Own, Travel to the U.S. or Arrive on a Student or Visitor Visa and then Declare They are Seeking Asylum If Declare Upon Arrival - Often Put Immediately in Detention Center To Qualify for Refugee Status, Asylum Seeker Must Meet Same Definition of Refugee - Well-founded Fear of Persecution, Fleeing Violence Process/Hearing for Grant of Asylum Status May Take Up to or Over a Year While Waiting for Hearing: Not Eligible for Any Gov t Assistance or Benefits even Food Stamps Must Wait at Least Six Months before being Granted a Work Permit

8 Receive Full Range of Assistance, Care, and Services Available to Foster Children by the State Housed and Cared for by State-licensed Foster Hosts (Families) The Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Provides Financial Support and an Assigned Case Worker Until Age 22 Unaccompanied Minors do Very Well - Thrive

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10 Tutoring in English (ELL), Math Assistance with Finding Housing, Local Relocation Connecting Asylees with Host Families Providing Asylees with Financial Assistance for Incidentals Financial Support for Continuing Ed/Job Training (case-by-case basis) Socialization Support Advocate/Liaison with Public Schools Clothing Drives and Laptop Drives

11 Volunteer. Sign-up at Donate (by check or Paypal) Become a Sustaining Member (individuals or organizations) Consider Hosting an Asylee or Fostering an Unaccompanied Minor Stay Connected through Newsletter subscribe on Website Participate in Events, Activities Donate laptops (more info on website) Help Spread the Word

12 We re Currently Looking for: Host Families we have the volunteers and funds to help! Help with fund raising initiatives Tutors Housing

13 Monroe Center for the Arts, Yearning to Breathe Free, Saturday, November 11, 7 PM at Cary Hall Refugee Stories through Music, Words and Dance Upcoming Meetings and Social Events Announced through

14 QUESTIONS?