Boise, ID

Refugees are people fleeing violence and persecution—in DR Congo, Somalia, Afghanistan 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 nine other national resettlement agencies to help them restart their lives in America. Out of the nearly 30 million refugees in the world, fewer than 1% 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 the governor's office as well.

Learn more about how refugee resettlement works.

The IRC in Boise helps refugees rebuild their lives.  IRC programs teach what to expect in the U.S., which includes the mundane, like operating washing machines and ovens, to the profound, like securing employment, budgeting and cultural orientation. We support refugees to advocate for themselves and put them on a road to self-sufficiency. We provide trauma informed mental health services. We teach employers about the strengths that employing those with refugee background brings. We support those seeking immigration legal services.

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

• A furnished home
• Economic empowerment through employment & cash assistance programs
• Access to health care
• Nutritious, affordable food
• English language classes
• Adult education: cultural orientation, job readiness, digital literacy and more
• Enrollment in local K-12 schools
• Social services and community support
• Access to immigration legal services

Initial resettlement services occur in the first months after arrival, but certain programs such as extended services, career development, and immigration legal services. Our programs in Boise include:

• Resettlement: Meeting the basic needs for food, shelter and legal rights in the early, critical stages of resettlement. (Currently suspended under executive order, Jan. 2025)
• Economic Empowerment: Protecting, supporting and improving household livelihoods and financial security.
• Extended Services: Extended support and mental health services on a referral basis.
• Immigration Legal Services: specializes on adjustment of status, family reunification and naturalization, as well as other immigration benefits and forms of relief. 

We provide:

• Immigration legal services
• Financial Capabilities & VITA tax filing support
• Refugee 101 presentations to civic, church, school and other groups
• Contact between service providers and qualified interpreters
• Internship & volunteer opportunities

The IRC offers a variety of services to eligible clients, including: case management programs, cash assistance, employment, financial coaching and loans, immigration legal services, and mental health services.

New or returning clients should request services through our intake process. We offer walk-in days every week for eligibility screenings. Please review this page for the next intake days for immigration legal services and all other IRC services. 

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: Internships and volunteer positions are available. Read the steps you need to go through to become an IRC volunteer and see our current list of volunteer opportunities.

Share in the community: 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 bring delicious cuisine, diverse music, art and culture. They provide community goods and industry. Refugees give Boise a richness of spirit, and the constant opportunity to expand what it means to be Idahoan.