1. LexRAP Public Information Session
SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

2. LexRAP – Who We Are, What We Do
Group of Residents from Lexington and Surrounding Communities
Focus is to Help Refugees and Asylum Seekers Locally
Provide a Support Network for Basic Services and Necessities
Filed with Commonwealth as Non-profit
Led by Steering Committee
Overseen by 10-Member Board of Directors, including 4 Officers
Group is Non-faith Based, but Has Strong Support of Interfaith Community and Members
Work with Refugee Agencies that Vet, Process, or Place Refugees

3. Lexington - History of Refugee Outreach
LexRAP is Natural Extension of Lexington’s History Helping Refugees over the last 45 years
1970s Lexington Families Welcomed and Housed Russian Refusniks
1980s “Boat People” Crisis Lexington Interfaith Community Accepted and Housed 15 Cambodian Families
Other refugees that we’ve helped support and shelter include Vietnamese, Bosnian, and Croatian people fleeing violence and oppression

4. Crisis Level Not Seen Since After WWII :
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
Nearly 21.3M refugees under UN mandate – over half of whom are under the age of 18

5. Definition - A Refugee is Someone who has been Forced to Flee their Country because of Persecution, War, or Violence - as Defined and Protected in International Law
Unable or Unwilling to Return for Well-founded Fear of Persecution for Reasons of Race, Religion, Nationality, Political Opinion or Membership in a Particular Social Group
Granted Refugee Status Overseas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, after Receiving Refugee Status from the U.N.
Brought to U.S. by U.S. State Department for Resettlement
Refugees have Access to Wide Range of Federal Programs and Benefits
Goal is Resettlement and Integration in the U.S.
Refugee Status is not Given to People Seeking only Economic Betterment

6. Hurdles Refugees Face
Most Spend Years in Refugee Camps before Receiving Refugee Designation
Refugees are Subject to the Strictest Form of Security Screening of Any Class of Traveler to the U.S. Before they are Allowed to Enter:
Extensive Background, Security and Health Checks
Refugees Pay back their Flight to U.S. – Paid to Resettlement Agency
Upon Arrival in U.S., Financial Support Only Lasts for 3 Months
Within the 3 Months, They Must:
Get Medical Clearance (TB and Vaccinations, etc)
Take hours of English
Get Their Children Enrolled in School
Apply for Food Stamps and Other Assistance they may Qualify
Get a Job (Month 4 – They Pay Rent)

7. Definitions – An Asylum Seeker (Asylee) is Someone Whose Request for Sanctuary has yet to be Processed
Asylees are Individuals Who, on their Own, Travel to the U.S. upon Arrival Applies for Asylum – Often put Immediately in Detention Center
Asylees do Not Enter the U.S. as Refugees
To Qualify for Asylum Status, Person Must Meet Same Definition of Refugee - Well-founded Fear of Persecution
Process/Hearing for Grant of Asylum Status May Take Up to or Over a Year
While Waiting for Hearing:
Not Eligible for Any Gov’t Assistance or Benefits – even Food Stamps
Cannot Work

8. Definition – Unaccompanied Minor is a Child Under 18, Either Refugee or Asylum Status who does not have a parent or a relative available to provide for their long term care 
Receive Full Range of Assistance, Care, and Services Available to Foster Children by State
Housed and Cared for by State-licensed Foster Hosts (Families)
The Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Provides Financial Support and an Assigned Case Worker Until Age 22
Unaccompanied Minors do Very Well - Thrive

9. Questions?

10. Services LexRAP Currently Offers
Tutoring in English (ELL), Math
Assistance with Finding Housing, Local Relocation
Asylee Hosting with Financial Assistance for Incidentals
Socialization Support
Transportation Assistance

11. What We’ve Done to Date Tutoring Refugee Children Hosting of Asylee
Housing Placement for Refugee Family
Placement of Children in Summer Camp Programs
Establishing Relationships with Main Refugee Agencies in Massachusetts
Coat Drive for Refugees
Raised Over $5,000 to Date, including Grants
The LexRAP Asylum Seeker Working Group

12. What You Can Do Sign-up to Volunteer on Website (www.lexrap.org)
Help with Fundraising Efforts
Donate
Consider Hosting an Asylee or Fostering an Unaccompanied Minor
Stay Connected
Help Spread the Word – invite LexRAP
to Your Church/Temple/Organization

14. What’s Next – Our Goals
LexRAP is Building a Community of People in the Lexington Area to:
Host Asylees
Help Resettled Refugees find Stable Housing
Facilitate and Support Families who choose to Foster Unaccompanied Minors
We will be:
Applying for Grants
Conducting Presentations at Local Congregations, Organizations – INVITE US!!
Hosting Local Fund Raiser

15. QUESTIONS? www.lexrap.org
Thank You!
QUESTIONS?