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Conflict, war, famine, persecution, and economic instability are just some of the reasons a person could be displaced from their home country. At present, there are nearly seventy million refugees worldwide -- with over half of that population being women and children. Refugees are not nameless faces or identification numbers on a manifest; rather, they are people who have lost everything and need our goodness and compassion to keep moving forward.

​We believe in the decency of humankind and our capacity to show  grace. The Chicago Refugee Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering through compassionate poverty relief services and community empowerment. 

Research

We ask big questions and we're not afraid to dig deep and look for creative solutions to our most pressing problems. We believe in accurate reporting and judicious data collection to foster a more robust, and informed, debate regarding our most pressing topical issues.
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Our research culminates in articles, white papers, and reports focusing on immigration/human migration, international development, conflict studies, defense policy, women's rights, and developing economies.

Advocacy 

Chicago is a city of refugees. From the time of the Great Migration to the present day, the city has always been a welcoming harbor to those seeking refuge from persecution and danger. Life in the United States is a major adjustment from life in a conflict zone. The goal of the Chicago Refugee Coalition is to partner with community stakeholders and work to provide comprehensive resettlement services. Our organization takes an innovative multi-pronged approach to resettlement to ensure that we can provide the most complete levels of care during the resettlement process while maintaining the refugee's sense of dignity and honor. 

Community Development

​Think global: act local. This is our approach to our development development initiatives. We believe that working one-on-one in local communities yields a much greater impact and fosters a sense of community empowerment, innovation, and upward mobility. 
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The Chicago Refugee Coalition believes that through prudent community development, with a primary focus on poverty alleviation, refugees in the Chicagoland area will be better equipped to become more economically independent and self sufficient. 

Our impact

The Chicago Refugee Coalition aims to provide the highest quality services in the most effective and efficient way possible. Since August 2018, we have been able to distribute over 18,000 meals to the refugee community in Rogers Park and the best news is that we're just getting started. While it's important to quantify our work, we also must remember that the people whom we're serving must always come first. We invite you to hear about our work in their own voices in this short video below -- thank you!

Frequently  asked  questions

​Why a "Coalition" approach?

Successful resettlement takes a lot of effort and it's a task we can not do alone. We believe in furthering the creation of a welcoming space for refugees/asylees in the Chicagoland area. Therefore, we partner with organizations that are better equipped to assist with special matters such as housing, mental health, and legal services. We aim to raise funds to supplement, or fully cover, the cost of these services to ensure that our refugees are getting high quality assistance with minimal financial impact. 

How do you find refugees to assist?

We believe in taking a coalition style approach and we find families to assist through community outreach, referrals, or direct contact. The Chicago Refugee Coalition is not a resettlement agency funded by the U.S. Department of State nor does our organization assist in pre-arrival procedures. 

Do you find refugees overseas?

At present, we engage in providing transitional assistance to refugees in need once they have reached the United States. Our organization has identified key issues relating to fostering upward economic mobility and  independence post-arrival. We have not yet had the opportunity to assist in identifying refugees abroad or engage in pre-arrival resettlement process.

​Is your organization religiously or politically affiliated?

No, while the Chicago Refugee Coalition works with interfaith groups and assists refugees from a wide breadth of  religious backgrounds, our organization is, and will always remain, secular. Additionally, CRC is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse any candidate for public office. 

Is my contribution tax deductible? 

Yes, the Chicago Refugee Coalition is a non-profit organization as classified under IRS Code 501(c)(3). Regardless of contribution amount, you will receive a digital receipt within twenty four hours of contribution deposit which will serve as a record for your tax filing. 

Can I donate to a specific programing cause?

Yes, you may designate your donation to a specific project or fund ranging from support of resettlement services to expansion of development initiatives abroad. We appreciate your support of our organizational mission. 

Why does CRC only offer post-arrival services?

When a refugee family is placed with a resettlement agency, the United States government provides baseline cash assistance for a period of only ninety days. We work to address the issues of support after that ninety day period has ended. While case management support at a resettlement agency may last for up to five years, poverty alleviation services do not. We feel through a strong coalition we can address the issues of refugee poverty and work to ensure that our most vulnerable have an opportunity to achieve their American Dream. 

What do you not do?

Our organization does not provide in-house legal council to refugees, immigrants, or asylees; legal services are provided free of charge by references to legal clinics in Chicagoland. Additionally, our organization does not lobby for policy changes nor does our organization partake in the partisan political process.