Helping refugee families go from need to succeed
From need to succeed
We provide the extended support refugee families need to go from “need” to “succeed” in our Indy-area community. We help immigrant families who originally came to the United States as refugees through the United States Customs and Immigration Program for refugee resettlement. Though the U.S. suspended almost 100% of resettlements in 2025, hundreds of refugee families are here as a result of that program - and their economic and social stability takes several years to achieve.
We help refugee families bridge the gap between their enormous financial and social needs in the early months to year in their new country and the things a family must attain to become socially and financially independent. These “things” include:
Offering financial aid through programs that help subsidize foundational needs such as rent, transportation costs, utility costs, and food costs.
Offering social assistance by helping families find and connect with resources that help them learn English, gain education, find jobs, and obtain healthcare.
Exodus Refugee Immigration matches us with a family. We provides social and financial support to the families we sponsor for up to two years. We stay connected long enough for families to resolve short-term needs as well as to gain long-term economic and social stability in their new home and country.
Social Support
For newly-arrived families, navigating a new country - and its language, systems, and cultural norms - is overwhelming. Our volunteer team works to ease those feelings of being overwhelmed. Volunteers provide a wide range of support. This may be guidance on the small things such as where to shop for groceries to bigger things such as help in enrolling children in school, finding jobs, and learning English.
Most importantly, we extend friendship. We show through our presence that a new country becomes far less lonely or scary when one has neighbors who care.
Financial assistance
Refugees often find their initial jobs pay $12-$15/hour. This pay makes most rents unaffordable to new arrivals. Market rate rents for apartments or homes that can accommodate a family are up to $1,500/month. We provide rent assistance to bridge the gap between “affordable,” and the reality of the housing market.
At the same time, we work to help a family secure employment and education/training that gives them the opportunity for future financial independence.
Education guidance and ESL tutoring
English proficiency is the #1 predictor of long-term stability and success here. Families succeed when they attain education that opens doors to better job opportunities. To do that, they must speak English. We offer 1:1 tutoring to families. We also talk to family members to clarify their education goals and then help them find resources that enable them to meet their goals.
Contact
Reach out to Sharon Boller, organization president, with questions or to inquire about volunteer opportunities..
Email
sharon@fromstrangerstoneighbors.org
Phone
(317) 490-3833