How is ERIS funded?
ERIS is funded with a Federal Wilson Fish
Grant, by Church World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries, by
private donations for individuals and churches, and by proposals and grants.
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How does ERIS make resources available to refugees/asylees?
Each refugee/asylee individual or family is assigned an ERIS Case
Worker who has primary responsibility for the refugee and family. The
Case Worker, or "sponsor", is the most important source of information
and assistance during the first months of adjustment to life in the US.
An agency representative meets refugees at the airport, arranges for
housing, and prepares a resettlement plan that includes initial contact
with governmental services and employment agencies. Their sponsor
helps them get acclimated, helps them obtain a Social Security number,
and introduces them to employment and Social Service agents
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What
services and benefits does the US Government provide to refugees/asylees
who are being resettled in the US?
- Interest-free loan to pay for travel
the US.
- Eight months Refugee Cash Assistance
(RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) food stamps
- Housing assistance, furnishings,
food, and clothing
- Social Security Card
- School registration for children
- Referrals for medical appointments
and other support services
- Employment services
- Case management through community-based
non-profit organizations, such as ERIS, to promote adjustment of status
from refugee to legal permanent resident
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Does ERIS provide refugees/asylees housing?
Federal funds for a refugee/asylee's housing are transferred to ERIS
staff who in turn obtains suitable housing arrangement for the subject
refugee prior to their arrival in the US.
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Does ERIS provide refugees/asylees food?
ERIS does provide food for refugees/asylees for the first 30 days.
Thereafter we refer them to church, charitable and social services organizations
through which they can obtain temporary aid and food stamps until they
get settled and become self-sustaining.
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Does ERIS provide refugees/asylees employment opportunities?
Yes, ERIS has in-house Employment Specialists, and we work with numerous
employers throughout the greater Denver Metropolitan area to gain employment
for our refugees/asylees.
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Does ERIS provide refugees/asylees instruction in English?
Volunteers from the Colorado Refugees English-as-a-Second-Language
(CRESL) organization support ERIS in providing English instruction to
our refugees/asylees. All employable refugees attend Emily
Griffith Opportunity School for daily ESL classes.
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What
family members may accompany a refugee to the US if approved?
Generally, only a spouse and unmarried children under the age of
21 may accompany the "principal applicant". Other relatives may qualify
for resettlement in the US if they meet US refugee criteria themselves.
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For more information on refugees,
please visit our links page
which lists several useful and informative resources.
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