Keeping Our Promise Inc

PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE TO ENDANGERED WARTIME ALLIES.

RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE: KEEPING OUR PROMISE (KOP) PROVIDES HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO AFGHAN FAMILIES RELOCATED TO THE USA INCLUDING RENT, SECURITY DEPOSITS, AND APARTMENT ESSENTIALS SUCH AS NEW BEDS. WE SERVED 74 AFGHAN FAMILIES TOTALING 219 INDIVIDUALS IN THE GREATER ROCHESTER, NY AREA. THE MAJORITY OF THESE FAMILIES - 195 INDIVIDUALS - ARRIVED FROM AFGHANISTAN BETWEEN JULY 2021 AND DECEMBER 2021. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR HOUSING GOAL IS TO PLACE FAMILIES IN LONG-TERM STABLE HOUSING WHERE THEY WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE LIVING FOR AT LEAST TWO OR MORE YEARS. TO MAKE A RENTAL DETERMINATION, KOP WILL ASSESS NEIGHBORHOOD DEMOGRAPHICS INCLUDING CRIME RATES, OWNERSHIP, AND GENERAL UPKEEP OF SURROUNDING HOUSING UNITS. KOP HAS ESTABLISHED WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS, WHO FREQUENTLY OFFER POSITIVE REFERRALS TO OTHER LANDLORDS TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR FAMILIES. KOP ALSO WORKS ON GROUPING FAMILIES TOGETHER IN NEIGHBORHOODS SO THEY MAY HAVE MUTUAL SUPPORT OF EACH OTHER. THIS MODEL ALLOWS THE FAMILIES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND STABILITY AFTER ESCAPING WAR. KOP VOLUNTEERS DO AN INITIAL "FIRST SHOP," SO EACH FAMILY IS STOCKED WITH 3-5 DAYS OF CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD UPON ARRIVAL, AND EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A GIFT CARD TO SHOP AT THE LOCAL HALAL STORE, AND LOCAL GROCERY STORES UNTIL THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS. BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES WAS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM IN 2021, AS THE US SAW A RECORD NUMBER OF AFGHAN REFUGEES IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WERE STRETCHED THIN, AND SHORT STAFFED FROM THE CONTINUING COVID PANDEMIC. THE WHEELS FOR WORK PROGRAM GAVE OUT 8 CAR GRANTS FOR THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK. THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES A FAMILY TO CONTRIBUTE OR LOG 100 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS WHILE STUDYING OR IMPROVING THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS, PASSING THEIR DRIVING PERMIT TEST, AND THEN THEIR PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST LEADING TO A DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND SECURING EMPLOYMENT. FAMILIES FREQUENTLY STATE THAT ACCESS TO A CAR HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THEIR LIVES LEADING TO BETTER EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES BY REDUCING TRAVEL TIME, PROVIDING ACCESS TO A LARGER JOB MARKET, AND PROVIDING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THE IDEA FOR THIS WHEELS FOR WORK PROGRAM CAME FROM A LARGE STUDY OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN 10 CITIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN TWO FEDERAL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS STUDY (MOVING TO OPPORTUNITY) CONDUCTED BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND UCLA. THE STUDY FOUND THAT FAMILIES WITH A CAR "WERE TWICE AS LIKELY TO FIND A JOB AND FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO STAY EMPLOYED".EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A CELL PHONE SO THEY CAN COMMUNICATE, USE GOOGLE MAPS FOR GETTING AROUND THE CITY AND USING THE BUS SERVICE BEFORE THEY HAVE A CAR, AND TO MAKE MEDICAL, SCHOOL OR EMPLOYMENT APPOINTMENTS. THE PHONE INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE MONTH OF PHONE SERVICE WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN ROCHESTER.