Catholic Charities of Cleveland, Migration and Refugee Services (MRS), Asian Services In Action (ASIA, Inc.), and Building Hope in the City (BHITC) were selected by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), to expand services to recently arriving refugees.
MRS, ASIA Inc., and BHITC will receive $200,000 as part of the ORR's Supplemental Services for Recently Arrived Refugees grant program. Additional programming will be introduced that includes job readiness classes, vocational English classes, job placement and specialized social services for refugees with disabilities. The program began offering the services effective October 1, 2010.
"As refugees resettle into Cleveland, it is important that services are available to ease their transition to the new culture and assist them with starting their lives over," said Tom Mrosko, Director of MRS. "This program exemplifies the meaning of collaboration" said Brian Upton, Director of BHITC. "The three agencies have worked together for many years and understand the special needs that refugees arrive with." continued Upton.
In recent years, Cleveland has emerged as a gateway city for refugees. Since 2005, Cleveland has seen an increase in the number of refugees and the three agencies have collectively worked with more than 1200 refugees as they transition into their new lives in the United States.