Hias Inc

DRAWING ON OUR JEWISH VALUES AND HISTORY, HIAS PROVIDES VITAL SERVICES TO REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS AROUND THE WORLD AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SO THEY CAN REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

SEE SCHEDULE OPROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITY 1THE NUMBER OF FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE CONTINUES TO RISE AROUND THE WORLD. BY THE END OF 2021 THERE WERE OVER 100 MILLION FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. AT THE SAME TIME, NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS ARE RESPONDING TO MOST CRISES BY REDUCING RESETTLEMENT AND REFUGEE PROTECTION. IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE PROTECTIONS DO EXIST, ASYLUM SEEKERS OFTEN MUST NAVIGATE COMPLEX BUREAUCRATIC AND LEGAL SYSTEMS ALONE TO SECURE BASIC RIGHTS. AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPERIENCES-FROM UPROOTING THEIR LIVES TO SURVIVING OR WITNESSING VIOLENCE-MANY REFUGEES NEED URGENT SERVICES AS WELL AS LONG-TERM SUPPORT, LIKE PREVENTION OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND HELP FOR SURVIVORS, ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ASSISTANCE, LEGAL AID, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE, IN ORDER TO GAIN GREATER STABILITY AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES. AT HIAS, WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY THAT REFUGEES AND THEIR FAMILIES MAKE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE RIGHTS TO LIVE, WORK, AND LEARN IN SAFETY AND FREEDOM OFFER TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND THRIVE. HIAS PARTNERS CLOSELY WITH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP, LIKE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, AS WELL AS REFUGEE AGENCIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS. OUR WELL-ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS ENABLE US TO SHARE OUR EXPERTISE, ACHIEVE OUR ADVOCACY OBJECTIVES, AND MAXIMIZE OUR IMPACT. WE PROVIDE VITAL AND URGENT SERVICES TO REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES AND 14 OTHER COUNTRIES AND ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE.COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR MEMBERS. WE LISTEN CLOSELY AND PROMOTE "LOCALIZATION" TO BUILD ON COMMUNITIES' EXISTING STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES SO THAT PROGRAMS ARE SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE.LEGAL STATUS IS CRITICAL FOR REFUGEES. WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS, REFUGEES ARE FORCED TO LIVE ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY, LACKING HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, DIGNIFIED WORK, OR SAFE SHELTER - SOMETIMES FOR GENERATIONS. HIAS'S LEGAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT REFUGEES, WHETHER IN CAMPS OR URBAN SETTINGS, KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND ARE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE OFTEN-COMPLICATED LEGAL SYSTEMS THAT LEAD TO PERMANENT STATUS AND SECURITY. WE ARE PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE - INCLUDING CHILDREN, SURVIVORS OF TORTURE OR SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, REFUGEES WITH DISABILITIES, AND LGBTQ REFUGEES - SECURE INTENSIVE LEGAL AID.IN ISRAEL, FOR EXAMPLE, HIAS HAS BUILT THE CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 200 ATTORNEYS TO ASSIST OVER 1,300 CLIENTS BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021, INCREASING THE PRO BONO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO ASYLUM SEEKERS IN ISRAEL BY MORE THAN 600%. HIAS ISRAEL ALSO SERVED OVER 2,000 ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THOSE YEARS THROUGH LEGAL COUNSELING, INFORMATION SESSIONS AND PARALEGAL SUPPORT. HIAS MAINTAINS A SUCCESS RATE OF OVER 90% IN LEGAL CASES, SECURED RESIDENCY PERMITS FOR AT LEAST 90 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND SUCCESSFULLY INITIATED STRATEGIC LITIGATION THAT CHALLENGED POLICY AND HAD A BROADER IMPACT ON THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN ISRAEL. HIAS'S GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAMS HELP FORCIBLY DISPLACED WOMEN, GIRLS, AND LGBTQ PEOPLE ACCESS HUMAN RIGHTS, FREE FROM VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION, AND PURSUE THEIR POTENTIAL. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DRIVEN BY THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS AND SHAPED BY THEIR VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES. WE PRIORITIZE THEIR LEADERSHIP IN PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. WE PREVENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE BY REDUCING RISK; HELPING SURVIVORS, WOMEN, GIRLS, AND LGBTQ+ PEOPLE FIND HEALTHCARE AND SAFETY; AND CHANGING BELIEFS THAT PERPETUATE VIOLENCE. WE REDUCE THE RISK OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE BY BUILDING WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' ECONOMIC ASSETS, SUPPORTING SAFE SPACES FOR THEM TO FORGE BONDS OF SOLIDARITY AND TRUST, AND RAISING AWARENESS OF THEIR RIGHTS AND THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM. WE ALSO TRAIN COMMUNITY LEADERS TO RECOGNIZE AND WORK WITH WOMEN, GIRLS, AND LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS TO ENSURE THEY'RE SAFE. WE HELP SURVIVORS IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING, FIND SOLIDARITY, AND HEAL THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT, PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES, AND REFERRALS TO LEGAL SERVICES AND WOMEN'S GATHERING PLACES. WE ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE BY WORKING WITH MEN AND BOYS TO BUILD HEALTHY NORMS AROUND MASCULINITY AND UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.IN KENYA, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WORK ON BUILDING STRONG, RESPONSIVE PATHWAYS FOR SURVIVORS TO ACCESS MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND LEGAL SERVICES. WE FOCUS ON DEVELOPING PREVENTION MODELS THAT SEEK TO TRANSFORM MEN AND BOYS TO BE ALLIES. IN 2021, HIAS PROVIDED AN ARRAY OF INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, PSYCHOSOCIAL COUNSELING, AND ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR SURVIVORS OF GBV. IN ECUADOR, HIAS WORKS WITH A LOCAL PARTNER TO HELP MORE THAN 1,500 COLOMBIAN, VENEZUELAN, AND ECUADORIAN WOMEN DEVELOP THEIR BUSINESS IDEAS, GAIN ACCESS TO TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND RECEIVE SEED CAPITAL TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. THE REFUGEE WOMEN LEARN TOGETHER WITH THEIR ECUADORIAN COUNTERPARTS FROM HOST COMMUNITIES ON THE NORTHERN BORDER OF ECUADOR.OUR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECOVER FROM THE STRESS OF DISPLACEMENT AND DEVELOP HEALTHY COPING MECHANISMS. WE TRAIN KEY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE HOW PEOPLE OF ALL AGES RESPOND TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS, PROVIDE BASIC PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, AND REFER PEOPLE TO SPECIALIZED CARE. WE CREATE SHORT-TERM AND INTENSIVE CARE MECHANISMS WITHIN COMMUNITIES, SO THAT OUR CLIENTS CAN ACCESS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED URGENTLY. TO BUILD CONNECTION AND RESILIENCE, WE CREATE AND PROMOTE SUPPORT GROUPS BASED ON LANGUAGE, GENDER, AGE, AND OTHER FACETS OF IDENTITY. THESE GROUPS PROVIDE A SAFE FORUM FOR SHARING EXPERIENCES AND HEALING.THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC INCLUSION WORK, WE ENABLE REFUGEES TO WORK TOWARD FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE CASH ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND TO THOSE LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY AND OFFER EDUCATION AND COACHING ON ESTABLISHING HEALTHY FINANCIAL HABITS, LIKE THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING AND HOW TO NAVIGATE BANKING INSTITUTIONS. WE PARTNER WITH PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS TO OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS - BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES. WE ALSO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF THESE COMPANIES TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN REFUGEES AS EMPLOYEES.WE SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY DELIVERING SEED CAPITAL AND MENTORING REFUGEES WHO ARE STARTING BUSINESSES IN THEIR HOST COUNTRIES.

SEE SCHEDULE OPROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITY 2AS THE OLDEST RESETTLEMENT AGENCY IN THE WORLD AND THE ONLY JEWISH ORGANIZATION DESIGNATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO UNDERTAKE THIS HUMANITARIAN WORK, HIAS WORKS TO HELP REFUGEES BUILD STABLE LIVES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. DESPITE A RECORD HIGH OF MORE THAN 27 MILLION REFUGEES WORLDWIDE, THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES ALLOWED TO RESETTLE IN THE U.S. WAS CAPPED AT 62,5000 IN 2021, ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL NUMBER RESETTLED WAS ONLY 11,411. WITH FEWER NEW ARRIVALS, HIAS INTENSIFIED OUR WORK ACROSS THE U.S. TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES AS THEY ADJUST TO AMERICAN LIFE. THROUGH OUR NATIONAL RESETTLEMENT NETWORK OF 21 AFFILIATES, HIAS PROVIDED CLIENTS WITH NEW PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR FULL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION IN THE UNITED STATES.HIAS' ECONOMIC INCLUSION PROGRAMS TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH BY SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING CLIENTS THROUGH EARLY EMPLOYMENT OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ENHANCING THEIR FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. HIAS WORKS WITH CLIENTS NOT ONLY TO GAIN NEW SKILLS FOR OPTIMAL EMPLOYMENT AND A CHANGING WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO TO BUILD THEIR FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE, SAVINGS, AND ASSETS--SUCH AS PURCHASING A VEHICLE OR HOME, STARTING A BUSINESS, OR SAVING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. ACROSS A RANGE OF INDUSTRIES, HIAS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL EMPLOYERS TO INTEGRATE REFUGEES INTO THE WORKFORCE AND PROVIDE TRAINING FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND UPWARD MOBILITY. OUR NETWORK OF AFFILIATES ALSO WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP REFUGEES LAUNCH OR EXPAND SMALL BUSINESSES, ACCESS CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND DEVELOP ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.IN ADDITION TO ECONOMIC INCLUSION, HIAS' SOCIAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS HELP REFUGEES ACCESS CRITICAL SERVICES AND SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE INTO THEIR NEW COMMUNITIES WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR CULTURE AND IDENTITY. HIAS WORKS WITH CLIENTS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING, BUILD SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS, AND ADJUST TO DAILY LIFE IN A NEW COUNTRY AS THEY BEGIN TO HEAL FROM THE TRAUMA OF DISPLACEMENT.

SEE SCHEDULE OPROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITY 3HIAS MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE NETWORK OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS IN ORDER TO OFFER AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE TO REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, AND OTHER FORCIBLY DISPLACED PERSONS SEEKING LEGAL SERVICES. IN 2021, HIAS MATCHED 58 NEW CASES WITH PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND MAINTAINED A CASELOAD OF 230 CASES ASSIGNED TO PRO BONO ATTORNEYS. HIAS SERVED AN ADDITIONAL 155 CLIENTS VIA REMOTE CLINICS STAFFED BY PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND LAW STUDENTS. HIAS ESTABLISHED AN EARLY PRESENCE WORKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SOUTHERN U.S. BORDER - BECOMING THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO IMPLEMENT CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATION TO ASSIST CENTRAL AMERICANS AND OTHERS IN MEXICO IN ACCESSING THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM TO FILE FOR ASYLUM. AS A RESULT, HIAS IS A CRUCIAL ADVISOR TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO SERVE THE GROWING POPULATION OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS AT THE BORDER. HIAS' EARLY POSITION AS ONE OF THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER PROVIDED A UNIQUE VANTAGE POINT THAT ALLOWED US TO CHANNEL FACTS ON THE GROUND INTO OUR ADVOCACY WORK IN THE POLICY ARENA. HIAS' WRAP AROUND PROGRAM CONNECTS LEGAL CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE BROAD SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AS THEY NAVIGATE LIFE IN A NEW COMMUNITY.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICESADVOCACY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR WORK. WE ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND LEAD THE JEWISH MOVEMENT FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. WE EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, AND MOBILIZE AMERICAN JEWS TO PUT THEIR VALUES INTO ACTION AND ADVOCATE FOR REFUGEES IN THE U.S. AND GLOBALLY. WE WORK WITH GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES, OPINION LEADERS, LEGISLATORS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE POLICIES THAT PROMOTE FAIR AND HUMANE ASYLUM LAWS, REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, AND INTEGRATION POLICIES. WE FUEL THE JEWISH RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS BY EQUIPPING CLERGY, LEADERSHIP, CONGREGATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS AND IDEAS TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS LOCALLY AND HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. OUR ADVOCACY TEAM WORKS IN WASHINGTON, DC, DIRECTLY ENGAGING WITH CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPAND THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS OF REFUGEES NATIONWIDE.STATEWIDE COALITIONS AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS FUEL HIAS' WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL ACROSS THE NATION. THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND WITH THE FOCUSED WORK OF OUR ESTABLISHED REGIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA, NEW YORK, AND LOS ANGELES, HIAS ENGAGES WITH A BROAD RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS AND MOBILIZE SUPPORT TO ADVANCE THEIR RIGHTS.IN 2021, HIAS LED OR WAS PART OF 167 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, TRAININGS, AND BRIEFINGS, WITH PARTICIPATION FROM 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS. HIAS DEVELOPED THREE MAJOR GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS AND DOZENS OF ONLINE ACTIONS AND PETITIONS, ENGAGING TENS OF THOUSANDS. IN 2021, HIAS LAUNCHED OUR FLAGSHIP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, HIAS WELCOME CIRCLES, SUPPORTING CONGREGATIONS IN SPONSORING REFUGEE FAMILIES.