The Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee (IRRC) is a coalition of area churches, synagogues and a mosque, supporting the resettlement of refugee families in our area since 2016. Our coalition members include St Luke’s, Temple Israel, the Conservative Synagogue and the Muslim Community of Westport; First Church of Fairfield; and the Al Madany Center of Norwalk. Additionally, we partner with Jewish Family Services of Greenwich; CTs third and newest refugee resettlement agency.

As sponsor, IRRC is responsible for implementing a demanding, self-help program, and providing the family a runway to self-sufficiency and, ultimately, full assimilation. We also see this as an opportunity to return value to the community through cultural enrichment, diversity and economic growth.

Today, IRRC is part of a growing national network where every day Americans are building a more participatory and sustainable refugee resettlement program. We have an amazing group of interfaith volunteers, working in functional teams to help get everyone settled and acclimated to life in the United States. But we need your help!

                          https://www.gofundme.com/f/syrian-refugee-family-of-9-newly-arrived-in-ct

We are asking for additional funding to help with the upfront and ongoing costs of rent (our biggest challenge), food, clothing, and home goods not covered by federal and state assistance. Once the the adults are employed, you can help provide them with additional education and training, with an eye to helping each achieve their fullest potential.

We believe the developed world has an overwhelming obligation to respond. The US has a long tradition of resettling refugees, rooted in inspiring generosity and the immigrant roots of each one of our citizens. There is no better way to contribute to our national self-interest and, at the same time, answer God’s call to give fearlessly.  

What is Community Sponsorship?

Community Sponsorship is a model of refugee resettlement in which community groups, organizations, and individuals come together to sponsor and support refugees who are resettling in their community.

Under Community Co-Sponsorship, the sponsoring group partners with a refugee resettlement agency, and provides financial, practical, and emotional support to the refugee or family for a period of at least one year. These include; finding housing, and providing furnishing, clothing and other basic necessities. And assisting with registering with local, state and federal public service agencies. While fast tracked for Green Card, all refuges come with the rights of US citizens to public support (food and housing assistance, medical insurance) for an initial 6mos. We also provide assistance with language training, employment, health care and community orientation.

Community Sponsorship is a particularly intimate model, in that our volunteers become part of the sponsor family, and they ours. Why? Because the three essential responsibilities of a co-sponsor mean that what starts out as an opportunity to help change the life of another, may unexpectedly change your own!

a. The first is that of helper: assisting the refugee with initial material needs and helping the refugee achieve economic self-sufficiency.

b. The second is that of friend: providing the crucial emotional support and guidance needed by the refugee to meet the challenges of overcoming great personal losses and making the major adjustments to a new culture.

c. The third is that of advocate: ensuring fair treatment in our community—without discrimination —and promoting respect for the refugees’ cultural heritage and identity.

Why is community co-sponsorship so important?

The United States is expecting to resettle upwards of 100,000 Afghans. This far exceeds the 12,500 refugees who arrived in 2020. More importantly, this 100,000 will need to be resettled in the next 6 months. The traditional resettlement structure will likely only be able to commit to support about half of this so, right now the rest will need to be supported by community co-sponsors!

Our Partners

Who is JFS?

Jewish Family Services of Greenwich (JFS) is a non-profit social services agency serving the greater Greenwich community. Historically, JFS has provided mental health therapy, Jewish-themed programming, senior assistance, and immigration counseling. In October 2022, JFS formally affiliated with Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), one of nine national refugee resettlement agencies. At the same time, JFS received approval from the US State Department to resettle refugees in CT. Making JFS CTs third refugee resettlement agency. JFS already has a long history of partnering with community agencies, religious institutions, civic groups and individual volunteers. By partnering with community co-sponsors like IRRC, JFS has a goal of resettling 80 refugees and humanitarian paroles the fiscal year ending October 1.

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