LexRAP Public Information Session SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

LexRAP – Who We Are, What We Do Group of Residents from Lexington and Surrounding Communities Focus is to Help Refugees and Asylum Seekers Locally Provide a Support Network for Basic Services and Necessities Filed with Commonwealth as Non-profit Led by Steering Committee Overseen by 10-Member Board of Directors, including 4 Officers Group is Non-faith Based, but Has Strong Support of Interfaith Community and Members Work with Refugee Agencies that Vet, Process, or Place Refugees

Lexington - History of Refugee Outreach LexRAP is Natural Extension of Lexington’s History Helping Refugees over the last 45 years 1970s Lexington Families Welcomed and Housed Russian Refusniks 1980s “Boat People” Crisis Lexington Interfaith Community Accepted and Housed 15 Cambodian Families Other refugees that we’ve helped support and shelter include Vietnamese, Bosnian, and Croatian people fleeing violence and oppression

Crisis Level Not Seen Since After WWII : United Nations High Commission for Refugees Nearly 21.3M refugees under UN mandate – over half of whom are under the age of 18

Definition - A Refugee is Someone who has been Forced to Flee their Country because of Persecution, War, or Violence - as Defined and Protected in International Law Unable or Unwilling to Return for Well-founded Fear of Persecution for Reasons of Race, Religion, Nationality, Political Opinion or Membership in a Particular Social Group Granted Refugee Status Overseas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, after Receiving Refugee Status from the U.N. Brought to U.S. by U.S. State Department for Resettlement Refugees have Access to Wide Range of Federal Programs and Benefits Goal is Resettlement and Integration in the U.S. Refugee Status is not Given to People Seeking only Economic Betterment

Hurdles Refugees Face Most Spend Years in Refugee Camps before Receiving Refugee Designation Refugees are Subject to the Strictest Form of Security Screening of Any Class of Traveler to the U.S. Before they are Allowed to Enter: Extensive Background, Security and Health Checks Refugees Pay back their Flight to U.S. – Paid to Resettlement Agency Upon Arrival in U.S., Financial Support Only Lasts for 3 Months Within the 3 Months, They Must: Get Medical Clearance (TB and Vaccinations, etc) Take hours of English Get Their Children Enrolled in School Apply for Food Stamps and Other Assistance they may Qualify Get a Job (Month 4 – They Pay Rent)

Definitions – An Asylum Seeker (Asylee) is Someone Whose Request for Sanctuary has yet to be Processed Asylees are Individuals Who, on their Own, Travel to the U.S. upon Arrival Applies for Asylum – Often put Immediately in Detention Center Asylees do Not Enter the U.S. as Refugees To Qualify for Asylum Status, Person Must Meet Same Definition of Refugee - Well-founded Fear of Persecution Process/Hearing for Grant of Asylum Status May Take Up to or Over a Year While Waiting for Hearing: Not Eligible for Any Gov’t Assistance or Benefits – even Food Stamps Cannot Work

Definition – Unaccompanied Minor is a Child Under 18, Either Refugee or Asylum Status who does not have a parent or a relative available to provide for their long term care  Receive Full Range of Assistance, Care, and Services Available to Foster Children by State Housed and Cared for by State-licensed Foster Hosts (Families) The Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Provides Financial Support and an Assigned Case Worker Until Age 22 Unaccompanied Minors do Very Well - Thrive

Questions?

Services LexRAP Currently Offers Tutoring in English (ELL), Math Assistance with Finding Housing, Local Relocation Asylee Hosting with Financial Assistance for Incidentals Socialization Support Transportation Assistance

What We’ve Done to Date Tutoring Refugee Children Hosting of Asylee Housing Placement for Refugee Family Placement of Children in Summer Camp Programs Establishing Relationships with Main Refugee Agencies in Massachusetts Coat Drive for Refugees Raised Over $5,000 to Date, including Grants The LexRAP Asylum Seeker Working Group

What You Can Do Sign-up to Volunteer on Website (www.lexrap.org) Help with Fundraising Efforts Donate Consider Hosting an Asylee or Fostering an Unaccompanied Minor Stay Connected Help Spread the Word – invite LexRAP to Your Church/Temple/Organization

What’s Next – Our Goals LexRAP is Building a Community of People in the Lexington Area to: Host Asylees Help Resettled Refugees find Stable Housing Facilitate and Support Families who choose to Foster Unaccompanied Minors We will be: Applying for Grants Conducting Presentations at Local Congregations, Organizations – INVITE US!! Hosting Local Fund Raiser

QUESTIONS? www.lexrap.org Thank You! QUESTIONS? www.lexrap.org