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Bridge Refugee Services,
Inc.
5520 Ball Camp Pike
Knoxville, Tennessee
37921
Refugee Co-sponsorship: A Summary
Each year, the U.S. federal
government resettles thousands of refugees nationwide.
These refugees are legal
residents of the U.S., and they were victims of
religious, political, or ethnic persecution in their
countries of origin. Founded in Knoxville in 1982,
Bridge Refugee Services works with Church World
Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries to resettle
refugees in East Tennessee. Bridge offers a wide range
of services to refugees, but communities can also make
an important contribution. Community groups—such as
churches, synagogues, mosques, and non-religious
groups—can co-sponsor a refugee family. As co-sponsor,
the group will work alongside Bridge to welcome refugees
and help them integrate into the community.
What is
co-sponsorship?
Co-sponsorship is a
temporary commitment to provide a refugee family with
caring support. This commitment is carried out by a
group of 8-20 dedicated individuals over a 3-6 month
period. Before the refugee family arrives, co-sponsors
work closely with Bridge to plan for their
co-sponsorship experience. As the refugee family’s
friend and guide, co-sponsors might commit to any or all
of the following:
Ø
meet before
the refugee family arrives to learn about their culture
and history, and delegate responsibilities among members
of the co-sponsorship group
Ø
furnish the
family’s home or apartment
Ø
greet the
family at the airport when they first arrive, transport
them to their new home, and provide them with a
culturally-appropriate meal
Ø
help family
members find jobs and enroll children in school
Ø
familiarize
the family with public transportation, grocery stores,
banks, and other services
Ø
transport the
family to appointments (to medical visits, for example)
Ø
tutor adults
in English or enroll them in an English-learning class
What financial
commitments do co-sponsors make?
This depends on what the
co-sponsorship group can afford to do. Bridge suggests
$500 - $2,000. Until the refugee family is economically
self-sufficient (which often takes 2-6 months),
co-sponsors usually pay at least part of the cost of
rent, utilities, and groceries on behalf of the family.
Co-sponsors, however, are not the only source of
financial support for refugee families. Each family has
a small stipend (from the federal government), but that
fund is often exhausted within 3 months after the family
arrives. Also, all refugee families qualify for food
stamps.
How does Bridge
support co-sponsors?
Bridge’s Sponsorship
Developer helps co-sponsors organize before the family’s
arrival. Once the family arrives, the co-sponsorship
group works closely with one of Bridge’s Case Managers,
who oversees services for the family.
If you are interested in
co-sponsoring a refugee family through Bridge, please
contact Woods Nash, Bridge’s Sponsorship Developer, at
(865) 607-0079 or woodsnash@hotmail.com, and he will
help you get started. All of us at Bridge appreciate
your concern for refugees!
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