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    6 min read 6 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

    How to Find a Refugee Resettlement Agency

    A plain-language guide to finding and working with a refugee resettlement agency near you, including what they offer seniors and how to apply for help.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Government & Civic
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    6 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    refugee
    resettlement
    immigration
    seniors
    social services
    support

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Use the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement Directory
    2. 2.Call Ahead and Ask About Senior Services
    3. 3.Bring Your Documents to the First Visit
    4. 4.Ask About Citizenship and English Classes
    5. 5.Connect With Health and Mental Health Services
    6. 6.Build a Long-Term Relationship With the Agency
    1

    Use the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement Directory

    ~36s
    The Office of Refugee Resettlement at acf.hhs.gov/orr maintains a state-by-state directory of refugee resettlement agencies, state refugee coordinators, and ethnic community-based organizations. Search the directory by your state to see all local agencies, their addresses, phone numbers, and the populations they serve. Some agencies focus on specific communities such as Afghan, Ukrainian, Burmese, Congolese, or Cuban arrivals, while others serve all populations. The state refugee coordinator can help you find services even if the closest agency does not match your background.

    Quick Tip

    If the directory is hard to navigate, call your state's refugee coordinator directly. The coordinator can route you to the right local office in one phone call.

    2

    Call Ahead and Ask About Senior Services

    ~39s
    Before you visit, call the local agency and ask whether they offer services for seniors. Mention your age, your immigration status, your length of time in the US, and your main needs such as citizenship help, English classes, medical help, or housing. Many agencies have elder programs funded through the Administration for Community Living. Ask whether their case managers speak your first language. If not, ask whether they can arrange a free interpreter. Schedule an in-person appointment if possible. Some agencies serve walk-ins, but appointments mean a case manager who has time to listen.

    Warning

    Some agencies are closed to new clients due to funding cuts. If the closest agency is full, ask for a referral to a partner organization rather than walking away.

    3

    Bring Your Documents to the First Visit

    ~39s
    For the first appointment, bring your green card or other immigration paperwork, your I-94 entry record, your passport, your Social Security card, your driver's license or state ID, proof of address such as a recent lease or utility bill, three months of bank statements, the names and ages of everyone in your household, and any letters about benefits you currently receive. The case manager will open a file in your name and explain which services match your situation. You will sign a release that allows the agency to share information with partners such as Medicaid offices, USCIS, and your landlord.

    Quick Tip

    Photocopy everything before the appointment. The agency may keep your copies in your file. And you will want originals at home.

    4

    Ask About Citizenship and English Classes

    ~37s
    Most resettlement agencies offer free citizenship application help and ESL classes, often funded through the federal Citizenship and Integration Grant Program or the Refugee School Impact Program. The citizenship help usually includes filling out the N-400 form, gathering supporting documents, requesting a fee waiver, and preparing for the civics test. The English classes are often beginner-friendly and tailored to adult learners. Some agencies pair newcomers with volunteer mentors who meet weekly for conversation and errands. Ask what schedules are offered. Many seniors prefer morning classes, while working learners attend evenings and weekends.

    Quick Tip

    Pair the citizenship help with an English class. Two reinforce each other and many agencies schedule them back to back on the same day.

    5

    Connect With Health and Mental Health Services

    ~36s
    Resettlement agencies often partner with refugee health clinics and mental health programs for refugees and asylees. These services usually accept Medicaid, Medicare, or sliding-scale fees, and many use trained medical interpreters. Mental health counselors who specialize in war trauma, torture survivors, and family separation grief work at many agencies under the federal Survivors of Torture program. Ask whether your area has the program. Even seniors who feel they are managing well can benefit from a few sessions with a counselor who shares the cultural background of home.

    Warning

    Refugee Medical Help often ends 12 months after arrival. After that, seniors transition to Medicaid or Medicare. The agency can help you apply before coverage ends.

    6

    Build a Long-Term Relationship With the Agency

    ~41s
    Treat the resettlement agency as a long-term partner, not a one-time stop. Many agencies welcome former clients back for ongoing help with citizenship, employment, family reunification petitions, and elder programs years after the initial resettlement period. Sign up for the agency newsletter or community events. Volunteer for events if your energy allows. Many newcomers find friendship, community, and purpose by helping more recent arrivals navigate the same path. Keep the phone number of your case manager in your phone and your home address book. Even one annual phone call helps the agency know you are doing well.

    Quick Tip

    If your case manager leaves the agency, ask to be reassigned rather than starting over elsewhere. The agency keeps your file and the new case manager can pick up quickly.

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    Refugee resettlement agencies are nonprofit organizations that the US Department of State and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR, fund to help newcomers settle into life in the United States. The work covers the first 30 to 90 days after arrival in detail, with reduced support for up to five years after arrival. Services often include airport pickup, furnished housing for the first month, help finding work, English classes, school enrollment for children, Social Security and benefit applications, and pairing each family with a case manager. Even seniors who arrived years ago can still tap into the network for help with citizenship, health, and elder-specific services.

    Nine national agencies oversee the work, each with local affiliates in dozens of cities. The nine are Church World Service, the Episcopal Migration Ministries, the Ethiopian Community Development Council, HIAS, the International Rescue Committee, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and World Relief. Each agency runs offices in different cities, so the right one for you depends on where you live. Most agencies serve refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, victims of trafficking, and Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees.

    For recent immigrant seniors who arrived through a refugee or related pathway, the local resettlement agency is often the single best starting point. Even if your initial 30 to 90 days of services have ended, many agencies offer ongoing case management, elder programs, citizenship classes, English classes, mental health counseling for war survivors, and translation help. Funding has tightened in recent years, so services vary by agency and city. Calling ahead is the fastest way to find out what is offered locally.

    This guide walks through finding the agency closest to you, what services to ask about, what to bring to your first visit, how to apply for ongoing help, and how to connect with other support if your area does not have a full agency. Plan one visit to get started and a few follow-ups to receive help.

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    refugee
    resettlement
    immigration
    seniors
    social services
    support

    Official Resources

    USA.gov — Government ServicesSSA — Social SecurityBenefits.govIRS Free File

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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