Resettlement
Programs
The goal of the refugee resettlement program is to promote early self-sufficiency
and cultural adjustment among newly arrived refugees. This program's services
are funded by the Department of State; the United States Department of Health
and Human Services (USDHHS)-Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR); the United
Way of the Texas Gulf Coast; and pass-through funding from our national resettlement
partner the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC).
Our Current Resettlement Services are:
Reception and Placement Services:
o Under this program "Core" services that include the following are provided:
airport pick-up, housing and safety orientation, transportation assistance,
housing, home furnishings, clothing, food, medical and employment referrals,
school enrollment, community orientation, sponsorship of relatives overseas,
and assistance with applications for Social Security, Food Stamps, and Medicaid.
o Core services must be made available for at least 30 days after a refugee's
arrival.
o Reception and Placement follow-up and self-sufficiency services are provided
at a minimum, for the first 180 days of a refugee's arrival.
Matching Grant (MG):
o The goal of MG is to help eligible refugees attain self-sufficiency within
120 to 180 days after their date of arrival.
o MG is structured as a public-private partnership. Hence, ORR stipulates
that the Alliance (and all agencies w/MG programs) must match $1,000 per enrollee
from private sources.
o Match must be a minimum of 20% cash and 80% in-kind- such as donations and
volunteer time.
o MG offers refugees short-term cash, rental, placement, and other support
services, such as English language training, childcare and transportation
subsidies.
Unanticipated
Arrivals:
The goal of Unanticipated Arrivals Program is to provide self-sufficiency
and supportive services to Recently Arrived Refugees (or sudden and unexpected
large secondary migration of refugees) where recipient communities are not
sufficiently prepared in terms of linguistic or culturally appropriate services.
o Unanticipated Arrivals Program clients overcome barriers to self-sufficiency
through intensive case management, job readiness training, job fairs, health
fairs, and family wellness workshops.
Preferred Communities (PC):
The goal of Preferred Communities Program is to support the resettlement of
newly arrived refugees in economically and socially suitable communities which
meet the following conditions:
o Create ample opportunities for early employment.
o Support sustained economic independence.
o The program also addresses special populations who need intensive case management,
culturally and linguistically appropriate linkages and coordination with other
service providers to improve their access to services.
o Current PC services include subsidy for short-term vocational training,
bus tokens and passes, school uniforms, and emergency rental assistance
o Preferred Communities (PC) is funded by ORR and administered by ECDC.
Repatriation:
The purpose of Repatriation Program is to provide temporary assistance to
U.S. citizens who experience unexpected and unavoidable problems abroad, and
to assist them upon their return to the U.S. to resume their lives as quickly
as possible.
Services under this program include:
o temporary housing and food allowance
o referral for healthcare
o public assistance
o acquisition or reinstatement of legal documents
o job counseling
o job placement
The Alliance is one of the two agencies in Texas providing Repatriation Services.