Co-Sponsor a Refugee Family

Mobilize your faith community, business, or civic organization to co-sponsor a refugee family with IRIM! Through the experience of co-sponsoring a refugee family, you will learn stories of courage, resilience, and renewed hope. The goal of co-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 Co-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 $5,000 to $8,000 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 co-sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joan Leech, Director of Development and External Relations at 773-989-5647, Ext. 254 or jleech@irim.org