Welcomes and assists refugees in the Portland, Vancouver and Seattle areas. Volunteer sponsors—often family members, close friends, congregations or other organizations—are recruited to greet arriving refugees at the airport, arrange accommodations, provide food and furniture, and orient the refugees to daily life in their new home. Case managers—able to speak the refugee’s language—help newly-arrived refugees process paperwork and secure governmental assistance, enter employment programs, attend ESL classes, and generally find solutions to any problems that arise in the resettlement process. The Reception & Placement Program is vital in advancing refugees towards self-sufficiency.
Reception and Placement Coordinator: Margo Sobieraj 503-731-9528
Provides low-cost immigration counseling to the Portland Metro’s refugee and immigrant populations. Our staff is well-trained and experienced in the practice of immigration law, and members of our staff are certified by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). ICAP counsels refugees and immigrants about their rights and responsibilities pertaining to their immigration status, helps clients with all immigration forms and applications, and represents clients before the INS. ICAP staff also provides translation and interpretation services; public notary services; attorney referrals; immigration and passport photos; and fingerprinting services. In addition, ICAP engages in advocacy for the preservation of immigrants’ rights in the legal system at all levels of government. We have the capacity to serve clients in English, Russian and Ukrainian.
ICAP Coordinator: Danny Tsai 503-731-9538
On Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, Lutheran Community Services
coordinates a gift giving program, in which our neediest refugee families
can receive gifts of furniture, household items, clothing and food.
Families let us know what their greatest needs are, and we find individuals,
organizations, churches or businesses who are willing to provide these
items in new or good condition. Gift certificates are also very much
appreciated. Your items will be picked up by the families in need or
delivered to them. This program is very flexible, and we try to accommodate
both the refugee family's needs, as well as the gift givers' needs.
If you are interested in becoming a gift giver,
or learning more about this program, please contact Margo Sobieraj at 503-731-9528 |
