Supporting Refugee Resettlement in Chicago: Our Continued Commitment
Photo credit: World Relief Chicagoland
Shining a spotlight on four Chicago-area organizations dedicated to resettling refugee families
In the face of ongoing funding cuts, stop-work orders, and suspensions, Chicago-area refugee resettlement organizations and programs continue to offer support to those who fled war and persecution, helping individuals and families rebuild their lives with dignity.
Let’s take a closer look at the commitments provided by four refugee-serving Walder Foundation grantees as they have responded to governmental shifts and adapted their services for the short and long term.
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, Inc. (ECAC)
Founded in 1984, ECAC serves the core needs of Ethiopians and other refugees and immigrants and promotes Ethiopia’s rich culture and values in Chicagoland and beyond.
Despite refugee support and programming halts, the organization has been able to continue serving clients through their state-funded programs. Support efforts include assisting clients with obtaining legal documents, connecting them to social safety net programs, finding employment, teaching them English, enrolling children in schools, and more.
ECAC has witnessed client strain in past months, but alongside partners and the State of Illinois, the organization has persevered. They have mobilized a wide volunteer network to provide refugee families with donated food, furniture, and home items, and have worked to place recently arrived clients into safe, secure permanent housing while also connecting them with essential programming and training. As refugee families were successfully connected with services, ECAC shifted its efforts to focus on integrating them into their new communities.
Over the next few years, ECAC will continue to adapt. “Our priorities will be focused on expanding our integration services to ensure that the refugees who are already here have their evolving needs addressed,” stated Ashley Whetham, program manager at ECAC. “We are looking to expand into health, legal, and youth services. We recently became a U.S. Department of Justice Recognized and Accredited organization to provide our clients with legal services such as green card and citizenship applications.”
Best Ways to Support ECAC:
Volunteer with ECAC short-term or long-term. ECAC offers opportunities such as internships, tutoring, co-sponsorship, and more.
Make a donation. For perspective, $50 buys steel-toed shoes for a refugee’s first manufacturing job, while $1,200 provides rental assistance for one month.
Attend ECAC events. Upcoming events include a summer picnic, pickleball fundraiser, and World Refugee Day celebration.
Photo Credit: ECAC
HIAS at JCFS
In 1983, HIAS Immigration & Citizenship joined in partnership with Jewish Family and Community Service (currently JCFS Chicago).
Despite recent changes to immigration policies and funding, HIAS has continued to provide case management, immigration legal services, employment services, and school and housing support. They continue to help refugee clients already in Chicago on their path to self-sufficiency, including heightened response to increased demands for legal assistance (filing for adjustment of status, re-parole, green card, work authorization, family reunification) and related educational sessions. The JCFS Access line (855.275.5237) remains open for HIAS intake, information, and referrals.
“Fortunately for JCFS Chicago HIAS, we have been able to withstand the storm through the generous support of our foundation partners, donors, and community,” stated Shannon Ericson, director of HIAS. “As refugees and humanitarian parolees face the loss of public benefits such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Refugee Cash Assistance, and other vital programs, HIAS is working hard to meet the needs of our clients. We continue to monitor these changes, advocate as best we can, and look for alternative resources to support our clients during these turbulent times.”
Top priorities for HIAS at JCFS include continuing to provide their essential services, including case management, immigration legal services, employment services, and other supports. They also are searching for alternative funding sources to close the gap left by the stop work order while advocating for “welcoming the stranger” and the continuation of core refugee resettlement services.
Best Ways to Support HIAS at JCFS:
Advocate to continue supporting the area’s newest neighbors.
Make a donation to support their services.
Volunteer as an afterschool tutor, family mentor, citizenship tutor, and/or in other important roles.
Employment Specialist Zubair Omari meets with a client to support their employment goals and provide education on the workforce in the United States. Photo credit: HIAS at JCFS
RefugeeOne
Since 1982, RefugeeOne has worked to create opportunities for refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. Their ongoing holistic services include English classes, job placement help, and youth services, among others.
Shortly before the federally-mandated refugee program pause and funding freeze, RefugeeOne had welcomed 500+ refugees. While the organization lost a large portion of federal funding for basic life expenses like housing and food, they have continued to serve these newcomers and others as best as possible with their current staff and the help of community support. For example, RefugeeOne has served almost 100 walk-in clients since January—all of whom have been recent arrivals to the U.S. —and has continued to offer comprehensive in-house mental health services to address their client’s past trauma and new fears.
Other adaptations include an organizational service delivery model restructure to best address the needs of refugees already on U.S. soil.
“We no longer can plan to greet newcomers at the airport and have their apartment ready,” shared Melineh Kano, executive director of RefugeeOne. “Instead, we are shifting to serve more walk-in clients who traveled to the U.S. independently with a Special Immigrant Visa.”
RefugeeOne will also focus on showcasing why their work matters.
“Refugee resettlement saves lives and changes lives,” shared Kano. “I think of a young Sudanese girl who arrived here when she was seven years old. She has vague memories of escaping war with her family. Eleven years later, she’s about to graduate from high school in the top ten of her class and go off to a prestigious college with a full scholarship. She credits RefugeeOne’s youth programs with helping her flourish in her new country. She eventually moved full circle from being a client to becoming a volunteer to help other young refugees. While so much focus is on policy changes, I try to focus on each person we can help start anew.”
Best Ways to Support RefugeeOne:
Advocate to support refugees and refugee resettlement.
Make a donation to support refugees working toward self-sufficiency.
Tell friends, family, and social media followers how refugees boost our economy, make our communities more vibrant, and are part of America’s history of welcoming those in need.
Volunteer helping child in RefugeeOne's After-School Program which includes snacks, homework help, playtime, as well as social and emotional learning. Photo credit: RefugeeOne
World Relief Chicagoland
Working towards the creation of thriving, welcoming communities where families flourish has been central to World Relief Chicagoland's (WRC) efforts since their inception in 1979. The organization provides refugee emergency assistance, alongside community strengthening and resiliency programs.
After pauses to refugee resettlement efforts and funding discontinuations for those newly arrived, WRC staff remain dedicated to providing essential care for those refugees still in their first 90 days of relocation. Alongside community partners, they have ensured the financial support for over 380 refugees—covering three months of rent and vital services to foster future stability. Staff have continually adapted since to fill gaps in long-term assistance for refugees and immigrants within the community.
“Refugees need more than just an initial welcome at the airport or a new apartment,” shared Stephanie Clark, director of strategic engagement at WRC. “They require assistance navigating the U.S. healthcare system, educational support for their children, immigration legal services, and pathways to economic stability.”
For newly arrived refugees, WRC has continued to prioritize lower-level English courses to help individuals build a strong foundation in literacy and language skills and have provided reliable information and legal services. Due to the confusion that sometimes accompanies policy changes, WRC has also established an Immigrant Resource Hub, offering guidance to help immigrants understand how new policies may impact them.
While continuing to offer these services, the organization has its eye on long-term commitments to refugee families and communities. They continue to advocate for essential refugee programs and services and are actively building relationships with immigrant neighbors to reduce divisive rhetoric.
Best Ways to Support World Relief Chicagoland:
Advocate to support refugees and refugee resettlement.
Volunteer to stand with and accompany refugees and immigrants living in the community
Provide regular financial support to ensure continued care and support of resettled refugees
Photo credit: World Relief Chicagoland
Stay engaged with efforts from our Migration and Immigrant Communities pillar: walderfoundation.org/migration-and-immigrant-communities
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