In
addition to your resettlement agency, there are federal programs
and community service agencies that help people to help themselves.
Refugees are eligible for social services such as income support
and family counseling, but the specific services and their
availability vary from place to place. You will also need to
find out if, as a refugee, you are eligible for additional
services and how to apply. Your resettlement agency will help
you learn about the types of services in your local community.
There
are organizations and programs that will provide temporary
assistance, if necessary, while you are working toward self-sufficiency.
Eligibility for a service is often based on need, considering
personal income, residency, age, or other factors. If your
circumstances change or you fail to meet program requirements,
these services can be terminated or reduced.
The
resettlement agency is your first link to information and access
to community services. Some of the organizations or services
that resettlement staff may connect you with include the following:
Mutual
assistance associations (MAAs),
which exist in many communities, are organizations formed
by former refugees and immigrants to help their own people.
Some MAAs provide such services as community orientation,
transportation, clothing, and furniture assistance to refugees
and other newcomers.
Social
service agencies provide
a variety of services to the community as a whole, including
refugees. These agencies generally assist people with special
needs such as low-income families, the homeless, and people
with disabilities.
Religious
institutions such
as churches, mosques, and synagogues not only serve as places
of worship, but also may offer a variety of other services.
Some have libraries or weekend classes for children; some
distribute used clothing and furniture; others offer programs
for newcomers or the elderly.
Food
stamps is
a federal program to provide adequate nutrition to people
with low incomes. Refugees may apply for food stamps at a
designated local government office. Applicants must complete
forms that require proof of income and other personal information.
The amount of food assistance is based on family size and
income. Food stamps can be used to purchase food items only;
non-food items, such as cigarettes, alcoholic beverages,
diapers, paper products, or soap cannot be purchased with
food stamps.
Energy
assistance is
a federal program which helps people with low incomes pay
their heating expenses. Refugees are eligible to apply for
energy assistance at a designated local government office.
Applicants must complete forms that require proof of income
and other personal information.
Cash
assistance programs,
intended for people who cannot secure employment, are administered
at the local level and may differ between communities. Refugees
may apply at the designated local office. Applicants must
complete forms that require proof of income and other personal
information. These cash assistance programs are limited to
a number of months, and many have additional requirements,
such as active participation in a job search or regular attendance
at training programs.
Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) is
a federal program for people 65 and over or who are blind
or disabled. Refugees who meet SSI eligibility requirements
may apply at the local Social Security office, the same office
where you apply for a Social Security card.
The police are
responsible for enforcing the law and ensuring public safety.
They also help people in less formal ways, such as responding
to medical emergencies, working in inner city neighborhoods
to improve community relations, and giving directions to those
who are lost.
All
communities have fire departments and emergency medical services.
If you need help in an emergency, the telephone number to dial
in most areas of the United States is 911. If you have to use
the 911 emergency number, be prepared to tell the operator
the nature of your emergency ("police," "fire," or "ambulance")
and your location. If you cannot explain the problem in English,
just say, "Help" or "Emergency," and do
not hang up the telephone. The open phone line will indicate
where you are.
Knowing
about services in your community and using them wisely will
ease your adjustment to life in the United States. If you are
fortunate enough to have friends or family near you, their
support will be very important also. (More detailed information
about community services may be found in the "Education",
and "Health" sections )
