Afghan family at home.
“Starting over in a new country is not easy,” Abdul said. “The first six months are a challenging transition period. Without the IRC’s support, it wouldn’t be possible.”

Here in Northern California, finding affordable housing is the biggest hurdle facing newcomers like Abdul and Hadia.

That’s why we created The Soft Landing Fund, which helps offset the high cost of housing for newly-arrived families as they lay the foundation for their lives here.

Upon arrival, Abdul and Hadia were excited the IRC found an apartment near Hadia’s sister, who came to the U.S. three years earlier.  

At first, the monthly rent of $1,850 felt daunting—but thanks to the generosity of people like you, they received temporary rental support from The Soft Landing Fund to help bridge the gap until they became self-sufficient. 

Click here to support newcomer families like Abdul and Hadia’s.  

After two months, Abdul was able to begin paying rent on his own when we helped him find a job in construction, a reentry point to his former career as a civil engineer. Hadia is attending our English classes and supporting their three children in school. Support from The Soft Landing Fund provided much-needed stability as they adjusted to their new life and looked for work. 

“Starting over in a new country is not easy,” Abdul said. “The first six months are a challenging transition period. Without the IRC’s support, it wouldn’t be possible.” 

In the last two years, the IRC welcomed 5,450 people like Abdul and Hadia to Northern California. With your support, we can ensure they have stable housing as they integrate into our communities—from the Bay to the Central Valley.  

Together, we can provide our new neighbors with the support their need to flourish in their new homes.

Click here to donate today and support refugees rebuilding their lives in your community. 

*Names changed to protect the family's safety & privacy.