Refugee ResettlementRefugees often spend months or even years living in temporary accommodation, usually in overcrowded and undersupplied refugee settlements. Most refugees are eventually able to return to their communities. Resettlement to a third country, when refugees cannot repatriate or cannot remain in their host country, is a viable option for less than one percent of the world’s refugee population. Most are resettled in Canada, Australia, Western Europe and the US.
The US has a proud history of providing refuge to those fleeing war and persecution and is the largest resettlement country in the world. Even so, only a limited number of refugees are approved by the US government for resettlement here each year. Persons are admitted as refugees after they have been granted status by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services at the US Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM) at the US Department of State.
Those who do make it to the US at the invitation of the government often arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few possessions. Refugees must rebuild their lives in a new country with a new culture and language, often after having experienced tremendous hardship and trauma. Although some refugees come to the US to join family members, many arrive knowing no one. Ultimately, the vast majority of refugees here go on to learn English, to work, raise their families and to embrace life in America by becoming active members of their community. Many go on to become US citizens. To get here, however, most refugees will need the support of dedicated organizations like IIC.
In addition to volunteering your time, the Refugee Resettlement Program continuously accepts donations to assist our programs and newly arriving refugee families. The program is constantly seeking volunteers with trucks who may assist in setting up a new home for a refugee family scheduled to arrive.
If you wish to donate, please complete our DONATION FORM
You can prepare your donation by completing GUIDE FOR DONATED ITEMS
All donations can be used for your tax purposes as we are a tax-exempt, non-profit agency.
For more information regarding refugee donations, please contact Angelita Manning, amanning@iiconn.org or 203-336-0141.
Please help us — and clean out your attics, closets, and basements and bring your items to Helping Hands, 1593 State Street, New Haven. Helping Hands can also pick up your furniture for $35. For addition inquiries, please contact Helping Hands (203)-782-4800 or the IIC at (203) 336 0141.