Since 1975, the Refugee Resettlement programs at Catholic Charities have helped individuals and families begin a new life here in San Diego.
Since that time Catholic Charities has resettled over 27,000 refugees. Welcoming vulnerable and threatened people from all over the world is an important objective of the multi-cultural resettlement staff.
Sometimes they leave home in the early morning hours, taking only what they can carry, knowing that because of their politics, religion, race, or ethnic affiliation, they will not be safe in their country. Some live with packed suitcases for months or years, waiting for government permission to leave. In some places, they leave in shock and despair, driven away by natural and man-made disasters. They leave because they want to survive.
Refugees are among the world's most disadvantaged people. They are men, women and children who have had to make the most difficult of all decisions: the decision to sever their roots and flee from their homeland. They flee because they want to live in freedom and security.
Refugee Resettlement Services offers various programs that address the needs of our newly arriving constituents. The Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides funding, information and training to help local agencies serve refugees on a regional and national level and is one of the main organizations nation-wide that assists with refugee resettlement.
Catholic Charities' Department of Refugee Services currently has several programs funded through the USCCB and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Through these programs and others, new arrivals receive support for basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, cultural and community orientation, English language tutoring, employment services, health screening and referral and linkage to other appropriate social services. CCDSD resettles refugees in San Diego from countries all over the world such as: Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech, the Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Poland, Romania, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Vietnam, and Zaire.
Volunteers
Volunteers serve refugees by becoming English language tutors, computer lab monitors, resettlement mentors and support service helpers. For more information on becoming a Catholic Charities' volunteer, please contact us at 619 287-9454.
Location
Mission Gorge Office
4575-A Mission Gorge Place
San Diego, CA 92120
619 287-9454
619 287-6328 Fax
