Refugee Resettlement
Photo credit: Don Milici
The Refugee Resettlement program helps newly arrived refugees, from all over the world, start their lives over in the Los Angeles area. Catholic Charities’ staff members, many of whom are former refugees themselves, provide compassionate services to these newcomers.
In 2016, Catholic Charities resettled 270 refugees from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Almost all refugees come to the United States with their spouses or children. We are proud that we were able to resettle two very large families, with seven and eight children, despite the high cost of living in Los Angeles. Most of the refugees from Afghanistan previously worked for the U.S. Army as interpreters or aides, and entered the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas. Many refugees are happily reunited with family members after a very long separation.
The program offers case management and a full range of employment services to help refugees adjust to life in the United States and become both economically independent and self-reliant. Ninety percent of staff speak at least one foreign language, including: Arabic; Armenian; Cambodian (Khmer); Chinese (Chiu-Chow, Cantonese, Mandarin); Farsi; French; Greek; Korean; Russian; Spanish; Turkish; and Vietnamese.
If you are interested in welcoming new Americans, there are several ways for you to get involved. Here is how you can help:
Donate Furniture – Refugees do not have the luxury of relocating to the United States with their basic household necessities that will make their first home more livable. If you are interested in donating furniture or household items, please contact us. We have the ability to pick up items if they are within a reasonable distance from our office. Please click here for a list of items we accept.
Volunteer – Refugees must be able to financially support themselves soon after their arrival, due to limited available cash assistance. We work hard to ensure our clients find employment as soon as possible. We rely on volunteers to provide adequate support to make sure our clients are prepared for the competitive Los Angeles job market. If you would like to volunteer as an English Conversational Partner or an Employment Mentor, please contact us for more information.
If you do not have time to volunteer, or extra furniture to give away, but would still like to contribute, you can click here to learn how to support the Refugee Resettlement Program financially.
Refugee Resettlement Office
4322 San Fernando Road
Glendale, CA 91204
818-409-0057
818-409-0991