HIAS CHICAGO

For over a century, HIAS Chicago has been one of the most respected providers of immigration services in the Chicago metropolitan area, and is today the only Jewish refugee resettlement program in Illinois. Founded to assist Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the early 1900s, the program has expanded over time to address the needs of various immigrant groups from around the world, regardless of religion, race or national origin. HIAS Chicago was particularly instrumental in the resettlement of Jewish refugees from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and in the last 40 years, has assisted over 40,000 immigrants and refugees from the FSU, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Today, as a program of Jewish Child & Family Services, HIAS Chicago is proud to provide an array of comprehensive immigration and citizenship services to approximately five hundred individuals in the city of Chicago and North and Northwest Suburbs each year. This includes support with Green Card applications and Adjustment of Status; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; family-based immigration petitions; and support with citizenship applications, including an 8-session series of citizenship education classes to help individuals prepare for their citizenship exam and interview. Additionally, pursuant to a contract with the State Department beginning in October 2016, HIAS Chicago expanded its refugee resettlement program, providing critical resettlement services to families from diverse parts of the world, including, but not limited to, Syria, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Former Soviet Union; these services include airport pickup and housing, cultural orientation, intensive case management, and referral to ESL and job training. Finally, HIAS Chicago works in partnership with Holocaust Community Services, a joint program of the Jewish Federation and CJE SeniorLife, to provide assistance to Holocaust survivors who are eligible to apply for compensation from the Claims Conference, the Polish Government, and other government agencies/organizations.

HIAS Chicago’s work is inspired by the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and welcoming the stranger, as well as the history and experiences of Jewish immigrants and refugees. We strive to help individuals and families transition from strangers in a new land to contributors in their communities to proud American citizens.

Stand with Refugees: Become a Congregational Co-Sponsor

Today, over 65 million people are displaced around the world – of those, more than 25 million are refugees. Various conflicts across the globe, including in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere, have created the greatest humanitarian crisis the world has seen since World War II. In the face of this crisis, many countries and states and institutions have closed or threatened to close their doors to refugees, unable or unwilling to provide the critical support necessary to help them rebuild their lives.

As Jews, we know first-hand what it means to be a refugee; to be oppressed, persecuted, and forced to flee our homes while the world turns its back. At the Evian Conference, convened in 1938 to discuss the plight of Jewish refugees, only one country – the Dominican Republic – agreed to open their borders to those fleeing Nazi terror. We’ve walked in the shoes of today’s refugees.

With this history as a foundation and the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Hachnasat Orchim (welcoming others) guiding us, HIAS Chicago, a program of JCFS and affiliate of HIAS National, has created the Congregational Co-Sponsorship Program. This partnership initiative is an opportunity for synagogues to welcome and support newly arrived refugee families by providing critical social-emotional and financial support, ensuring that the integration into their new community goes smoothly, and establishing a strong pathway to self-sufficiency. A Congregational Welcome Team helps coordinate the synagogue’s cadre of volunteers as they work to:

 Raise the funds needed to help support a refugee family during their first three months in the United States  Greet the family at the airport upon their arrival  Help set up the family’s apartment with furniture and other household items  Tutor youth or adults in English and assist school-aged children with their schoolwork  Mentor the family by accompanying them to the grocery store, helping them navigate public transport networks, and orienting them to the city Chicago

This year, HIAS Chicago anticipates resettling 60 individuals to the Chicagoland area and we want them to feel the sentiment of: “We’re glad you’re here.” Consider joining with us as we create a Jewish movement of welcoming – one that is inspired by Jewish values, motivated by the history and experiences of Jewish refugees who came before us, and stands in stark contrast to the negative rhetoric around the struggles of refugees that exists today. In addition to the Congregational Co-Sponsorship Program, synagogues and other institutions and groups can help by preparing Welcome Kits or volunteering for specific activities.

For more information, contact Jessica Schaffer, HIAS Chicago Director at [email protected] or 312.673.3232.