Refugee Resettlement Funding and Services
· Although refugee resettlement goals are accomplished through a variety of funding sources, the resettlement agencies in KY must ensure that five basic components are offered to clients. These are: 1) initial relocation assistance, 2) temporary cash assistance, 3) temporary medical assistance, 4) non-employment related social services, and 5) employment services.
· In Kentucky, there are four organizations that service the refugee entrants into the state:
- Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville and Lexington)
- Jewish Family and Vocational Services (Louisville)
- Western Kentucky Refugee Mutual Assistance Association (Bowling Green)
- Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services
(Louisville-based with sites in Lexington and Bowling Green)
These offices provide the following assistance to refugees:
Initial Relocation Assistance
· Reception & Placement (R&P) funding – Money is granted as “start-up” funding for a refugee family’s arrival in the United States. The Department of State (DOS) authorizes a one-time payment of $400 per individual in direct assistance to be used for apartment rental and initial deposit, essential furniture, clothing, house ware items, and food.
· Cuban/Haitian (C/H) funding - Money is granted as “start-up” funding for a Cuban or Haitian Entrant family’s arrival in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through USCCB, authorizes a one-time payment of $625 per individual in direct assistance to be used for apartment rental/initial deposit, essential furniture, clothing, house ware items, transportation, minimal pocket cash, and food. DHS, through CWS, authorizes a one-time payment of $_____ per individual for the same purpose.
Transitional Assistance
· Wilson-Fish (WF) funding – This is granted for anyone who meets eligibility criteria for refugee-type benefits. Formula funding comes from the Department of Health & Human Services / Administration for Children & Families / Office of Refugee Resettlement (DHHS/ACF/ORR) to Catholic Charities – MRS of Louisville. Funds are allocated statewide based on arrival load and services offered by each local affiliate. Trivial history: The KY CHFS/CBS office had this role until 1994 when they turned over the ORR funding and associated service provision to USCCB. At that time, USCCB was the recipient and all local affiliates (including MRS) in KY were sub-recipients, but the Director of MRS was named the KY State Refugee Coordinator. In 2001, USCCB turned full fiscal and reporting responsibility over to Catholic Charities – MRS in Louisville. The following categories are covered under WF.
1. Refugee Employment Services (RES) – Assist clients with on-site ESL training, job search and placement, transportation, interpreting, etc. (see attached WF Social Services diagram). Clients within the state for less than a year access this employment service. Maximum eligibility is 5 years after date of arrival in the US.
2. Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) – Assist primarily single adult clients and adult couples without children with temporary financial assistance until employed. Statewide levels are $300 for singles, $450 for couples per month. Cash incentives are also offered once per client for job acceptance ($250) and 90-day job retention ($450). Maximum eligibility is 8 months after date of arrival in the US.
3. Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) – Assist any client categorically ineligible for, or denied Medicaid, with basic medical coverage. Maximum eligibility is 8 months after date of arrival in the US.
4. Other Social Services (OSS) – Assist clients with a variety of non-employment related services to help them adjust to life in the US. Maximum eligibility is 5 years after date of arrival in the US.
· Match Grant (MG) funding – This may be granted to anyone meeting the refugee-type eligibility criteria. Funding for MG programs goes from DHHS/ACF/ORR to national VOLAGs, and then flows down to local affiliates. Each VOLAG has its own cooperative agreement with ORR and also handles its budget differently. Therefore, available MG slots and amounts awarded to families vary among agencies. It is not a function of the Statewide Refugee Coordinator to oversee MG awards. However, no duplication or “double dipping” may exist where a client receives MG employment, cash assistance, or social services at the same time as the same services under KTAP or WF. The following categories are covered under MG. (See attached MG Social Service diagram).
1. Employment Services – Assist clients with on-site ESL training, job search and placement, transportation, interpreting, etc. Enrollment must take place within 31 days of arrival in the US. Maximum eligibility is 6 months after date of arrival in the US.
2. Cash Assistance - Assist primarily families with minor children with temporary financial assistance until employed. Each affiliate has developed their own assistance levels based on guidance from their national VOLAGs. Maximum eligibility is 6 months after date of arrival in the US.
3. Social Services - Assist clients with a variety of non-employment related services to help them adjust to life in the US. Maximum eligibility is 6 months after date of arrival in the US.
Enhanced Services
· Targeted Assistant Grant (TAG) funding - This is granted for anyone who meets eligibility criteria for refugee-type benefits. Formula funding comes from the Department of Health & Human Services / Administration for Children & Families / Office of Refugee Resettlement (DHHS/ACF/ORR) to Catholic Charities – MRS of Louisville. Funds are allocated countywide based on arrival load and services offered by each local affiliate. The only two counties eligible for TAG include Jefferson and Warren counties. The purpose of TAG is to enhance WF and MG employment and social services by offering special programs designed for the long-term benefit of the client. There is no cash assistance available, but rather a wide range of educational opportunities including citizenship classes, computer training, college preparation, etc. There are limited incentives such as vocational scholarships, daycare subsidies, vendor payment gift cards etc. TAG services vary between each local affiliate.
1. Employment Services - Assist clients with on-site ESL training, job search and placement, transportation, interpreting, etc. Clients within the state for more than a year access this employment service. Maximum eligibility is 5 years after date of arrival in the US.
2. Social Services - Assist clients with a variety of non-employment related services to help them adjust to life in the US. Maximum eligibility is 5 years after date of arrival in the US.