In 2000, Mercy Housing established its Refugee Housing Program. The program, a part of Mercy Housing's Strategic Initiatives division, works with refugees and immigrants to ease their transition to the United States . Our staff members help these residents acquire the skills and find the services they need to feel comfortable in their new homes as they make a new life in our country.

Through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Refugee Housing Program provides technical assistance to agencies within the national refugee resettlement network on issues related to refugee housing. The program is designed to help resettlement agencies, refugees and ethnic community-based organizations on topics including:

• Finding housing
• Owning a home
• Dealing with discrimination in housing
• Collaborating with other organizations to maximize the use of resources for refugees and those seeking asylum
• Disseminating information about exemplary refugee housing resources and strategies

The Refugee Housing Program has published materials for refugees and organizations that provide refugee housing. To learn more about the program and to access these materials, please go to www.refugeehouse.org.