Sponsor a Refugee Family

Mobilize your faith community or civic organization to help IRIM sponsor a refugee family! Through the experience of sponsoring a refugee family, you will learn stories of courage, resilience, and renewed hope. The goal of sponsorship is to assist refugees in becoming self-sufficient as soon as possible. Most refugees achieve self-sufficiency within six months after arrival.

Responsibilities of Sponsorship (responsibilities vary with each case):

• Provide financial assistance for an apartment security deposit, two to three
  months’ rent, and incidental expenses. (IRIM usually spends $3,000 to $4,000 for a family of four).


• Meet the refugees at the airport and transport them to their new housing.


• Provide food and a food allowance for at least 30 days.


• Furnish the apartment with furniture and all household items (IRIM spends an average of $1,000 per apartment).


• Provide necessary clothing.


• Help refugees adjust to their new community and society through education and mentorship.


• Visit refugees regularly during their first 90 days in the United States.

The IRIM office, with its bilingual, bicultural caseworkers, also must meet the following goals through sponsoring a refugee family:

• Assist refugees in applying for social security cards and public aid.


• Help refugees get a health exam within the first 30 days after arrival.


• Assist in registering children in school and/or adults in English language classes.


• Provide assistance in finding employment and/or vocational training.

If your group is interested in helping IRIM sponsor a refugee family, or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rick Rybak, Sponsor Developer at (773) 989-5647, ext. 234 or rrybak@irim.org.