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Refugee Families in West Michigan Need Help

Every year nearly 700 families from across the globe are resettled in West Michigan. These refugee families come to our community having left nearly everything behind as they fled their homes in search of safety, often from war-torn countries. The average refugee spends 15 to 17 years in a camp, unable to work, living on basic rations and often in very crowded conditions, before they are approved for resettlement.

After extreme vetting that includes security screening and multiple interviews over the course of 18-24 months, approved refugees are matched with a resettlement agency. These agencies, funded primarily through government contracts, provide just 90 days of assistance, after which time many of the social support services are lost. Can you imagine adjusting to a new country in just 90 days?

This is where we step in. Thrive’s Refugee Support Center offers drop-in services that include help with housing and employment questions, connecting to community resources to fill the gaps, and classes in English and citizenship. In addition, Thrive trains volunteer as Cultural Brokers who come alongside refugee families and assist them with adjusting to their new home. Cultural Brokers assist with navigating day-to-day life, everything from setting up a bank account to understanding parent-teacher conferences, or finding a dentist.