Somali Bantu Resettlement Program

ARRIVAL JANUARY 31st!
We will be sponsoring Jeley Adan, a recently widowed 19-year-old. Because of her personal situation we have been told to expect that her arrival might be earlier than 2 months. We are very excited to finally be able sponsor a Somali Bantu refugee.

As a sponsoring organization, the Council will make a 180 commitment to the refugee family.  In many cases the refugees are employed and self-supporting by the end of the third month after their arrival.  Should the family become employed and self-supporting sooner than 180 days the sponsor is not expected to continue with financial support.  The average cost to a sponsoring organization is $2,000 - $3,000. 

While the commitment to sponsor a refugee family is not a legal one, the sponsorship is a moral and ethical commitment.  The sponsor assumes no legal responsibility for the family but simply agrees to help provide the thirteen core services required to help a refugee begin his or her new life of freedom in the United States.

Core Services

Meet the newly arriving family at the airport and transport them to housing.   

Assist with 3 months rent and utilities.

Provide food or a food allowance for two weeks until food stamps begin.

Provide clothing and other necessities such as personal care items for up to 180 days. 

Assist refugees in applying for Social Security cards and food stamps.  The Lutheran Family Services case manager assigned to your church and to the refugee you sponsor will assist with this.

Assist refugees in getting to the doctor for a health exam within 30 days. The SC Department of Social Services will pay for the exam.

Register children at school.

Help the refugees get enrolled in English classes, help arrange transportation to the classes, and help them practice their English.

Provide orientation to the new community and society.  This includes helping them locate the grocery store, post office, bank, etc. This also includes helping them learn how to use public transportation. 

Assist them in preparing for the job market, filing out employment applications, and getting a job.  The case manager will assist with this process.

Provide transportation to job interviews or job training.

Maintain contact with the case manager and with the resettlement agency for 180 days and cooperate with the case manager as he/she prepares and submits required reports.

Maintain contact with LFS and your organizations refugee resettlement office for 180 days and cooperate with the case manager as he/she prepares and submits required reports.