Boise, ID

Refugees are people fleeing violence and persecution—in DR Congo, Burma, Somalia, and other countries in crisis. They are seeking safety and the chance to move their lives forward.

The United States has a long tradition of sheltering those fleeing conflict and persecution. Once refugees have been identified by the United Nations refugee agency and cleared for resettlement, the U.S. government works with the IRC and eight other national resettlement agencies to help them restart their lives in America. Out of the nearly 20 million refugees in the world, fewer than 1 percent are considered for resettlement worldwide.

Refugees may be placed in a city where they have relatives or friends, or where there’s an established community that shares their language or culture. Other considerations include the cost of living and a community’s ability to provide medical services. However, as legal U.S. residents, refugees may live in any city and state they choose.

Each year, the IRC in Boise formally consults with the State Refugee Coordinator, medical service providers who work with refugees, the Boise City Police, the Boise and Meridian School Districts and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, to make sure our civic systems can support all the refugees we hope to welcome.  We meet quarterly with Governor Otter’s office as well.

We also solicit feedback from the general public in Boise through a quarterly open community forum held at the Ada County Courthouse or City Hall (contact Idaho Office for Refugees to get the next date / time / location).

Learn more about how refugee resettlement works.

When refugees first arrive in Boise, they have left everything—from their families to their homes to their household goods—behind. They have many immediate basic needs. The IRC relies on community donations such as:

• Hygiene items:  diapers, laundry detergent, bodywash / shampoo, feminine supplies
• Winter clothing items:  coats, hats, gloves, long underwear (seasonal donation - not year round due to storage limitations)
• Refurbished Laptop Computers:  These items prove critical in today’s market for job search and retention
• Cars and gently-used or refurbished bicycles 

We also are incredibly grateful for the many community volunteers who step forward to provide direct assistance to refugees over the course of their first days. See the Volunteer Opportunities page for more information about how you can help!

The IRC in Boise helps refugees remake their lives.  We teach them what to expect in the U.S., which includes the mundane, like operating washing machines and ovens, to the profound, like what is credit and what are U.S. laws.  We teach refugees to advocate for themselves to get and keep jobs.  We teach employers about the strengths that refugee employees bring.  We teach U.S. history to refugees seeking to pass the citizenship exam and become U.S. citizens.

Refugees are greeted and welcomed at the airport by IRC case workers and volunteers to ensure their transition is as comfortable as possible. The IRC also makes sure newly arrived refugees receive:

• A furnished home
• Help with rent
• Health care
• Nutritious, affordable food
• English language classes
• Help building job, computer, and financial literacy skills
• Education for their children
• Social services and community support
• Legal services towards residency and citizenship

Our programs in Boise:

• Resettlement: Meeting the basic needs for food, shelter and legal rights in the early, critical stages of resettlement.
• Economic Empowerment: Protecting, supporting and improving household livelihoods and financial security.
• Community Integration and Development: Strengthening communities and preparing individuals to participate fully in American society.

Local community members in Boise can engage with the IRC through multiple fora. We provide:

• Immigration services to all members of the community who need them in different places across the state
• Annual calendar of events open to the public 
• Refugee 101 presentations to civic, church, school and other groups
• Refugee speakers to describe personal experiences
• Refugee services Q&A
• Policy briefings on areas of high interest in refugee resettlement
• Contact between service providers and qualified interpreters
• Volunteer socials and Information/Orientation sessions
• Internship Programs 

There are many ways that you can get involved with the IRC’s work in Boise. You can:

Donate: Give a tax-deductible financial contribution either via the website or sent to our office.

Volunteer Opportunities: Read the steps you need to go through to become an IRC volunteer and see our current list of volunteer opportunities.

Internship Openings: We have three internship cohorts each year: spring, summer, and fall. 

New or Gently Used Items Needed for Refugees: We’re collecting items for newly arrived refugees. Contact [email protected] for more information!

Spread the Word: Consider hosting your own Fundraising Campaign (on or offline). Stay connected via our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, and ask others to do the same!

Refugees give Boise perspectives from all over the world. They give us food, goods and jobs in their thriving local businesses. Refugees give us music and art, which were so richly displayed at World Refugee Day and the World Village Festival. Refugees give Boise a richness of spirit, and the constant opportunity to learn.