Maricopa County Provides Nearly $5 Million to Support Agencies Helping Refugees

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved nearly $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support non-profit agencies serving refugees.

“People arrive in our community from all over the world and when you have never been here, it can be disorienting and scary,” said Supervisor Steve Gallardo, District 5. “Maricopa County is fortunate to have many non-profits that help refugees from other countries find housing, medical care, and cross language barriers so they can integrate and become an asset.”

Known as the Maricopa County Relocation Assistance Program, the funding has been allocated to a variety of non-profit organizations that will assist refugees and their families in overcoming obstacles and achieving economic and social self-sufficiency. The contracts, totaling more than $4.89 million, became effective on May 1.

The following organizations received funding:

• Area Agency on Aging: $128,419 to assist 100 elder refugees with pre-literacy and citizenship classes and help with citizen application fees.
• Chicanos Por La Causa: $1,879,648 to provide outreach, intake, transitional housing, legal services, and stabilization support for 40 families of newly arrived refugees.
• Friendly House: $344,921 to expand adult education, emergency support, and immigration services to 150 refugees. Assistance will also be provided for credentialing and certifications that enable stable employment.
• International Rescue Committee:
  • $675,504 to assist 100 refugees who are victims of crimes through holistic, strength-based, trauma-informed case management services. The funding will also train 100 community providers in culturally appropriate techniques to increase the community’s capacity to provide culturally appropriate services to victims of crime.
  • $957,426 to increase access to comprehensive legal services through consultations and assessments for legal relief.
• Lutheran Social Services: $600,000 to provide specialized case management, medical and support services for the most vulnerable refugees. This includes large families, single parents, and women.
• Somali American United Council of Arizona: $312,000 to foster connections to the community through job placement services and women’s empowerment. Classes will also be provided in nutrition, health classes, citizenship, digital literacy, and cultural adaptation.

These initiatives will provide critical support services to refugees in Maricopa County, ultimately helping them achieve self-sufficiency and independence. For more information on support programs available to Maricopa County residents, visit Maricopa.gov/HelpWithBills.