REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

Funded in part by the Peace and Justice Fund of the Congregation of Holy Cross (the religious community of priests and brothers that pastors St. Joseph Parish), the Refugee Resettlement sponsors refugee families arriving in South Bend.  
Most families become self-sufficient within a year, but some families require more long-term assistance.  There are many opportunities for parishioners to be involved in the sponsoring of a family, particularly in the initial stages.

We offer assistance with:

•    Obtaining food, clothing and shelter    
•    Locating housing, purchasing household items and setting up a household
•    Enrolling children in school and monitoring their academic progress
•    Enrolling adults in ENL classes
•    Transportation to medical appointments
•    Learning about public transportation
•    Securing driver licenses and obtaining a car
•    Securing employment
•    Budget counseling
•    An ongoing mentoring relationship

HISTORY

The St. Joseph Parish Resettlement program began with the arrival of the Vietnamese “Boat People”.  St. Joseph was the first church in South Bend to reach out to these refugees.  In 1998, a volunteer with the Refugee Services of South Bend office asked if we would sponsor refugee families once again.  Parishioners began by sponsoring a Bosnian family.  We have since sponsored two other Bosnian families, a Liberian family, a Sudanese family, and two Rwandan families.  The most recent Rwandan family arrived last fall.  We also offer less formal assistance to other refugees in the community.  

Refugee Services of South Bend was closed unexpectedly in the summer of 2006, leaving many newly-arrived families in crisis.  Our parish has helped many of these families.  The refugee services program is now connected with the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
 
CONTACT

Laurie Pinter