Private donations contribute greatly to the success of the IRC's work. Although we receive state and federal funding for initial resettlement and employment services, the assistance we provide to refugee families beyond their first few months in the U.S. would not be possible without community support.

Moving to a new country can be an overwhelming and isolating experience for anyone. Refugees who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence and/or persecution face particularly acute cultural, emotional and financial challenges during the resettlement process. IRC's HOME Program pairs volunteer groups with refugee families to help ease their transition into life in the U.S. through mentorship and financial and material support.

Private donations contribute greatly to the success of the IRC's work. Although we receive state and federal funding for initial resettlement and employment services, the assistance we provide to refugee families beyond their first few months in the U.S. would not be possible without community support.

Community Sponsorship offers an exciting opportunity for a group of community members to support resettlement efforts and to engage in deeply impactful work with one of our family cases. Following the higher volume of arrivals experienced recently and an increase in community attention toward assisting refugees, the IRC in Oakland is seeking volunteer groups who are interested in becoming Co-Sponsors.

On October 10, 2018 the Trump Administration proposed drastically expanding the definition of who constitutes a “public charge” through a proposed rule in the Federal Register. Such a change would have a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of thousands of families that the IRC serves. This document details how to oppose this harmful change.

One afternoon, a new client Abdul traveled with Carey Hobart, a volunteer from Bike Walk Wichita (BWW), to pick out bikes for he and his family. Along the way, Abdul began to describe his home in Afghanistan and the bicycle shop that he owned