Welcome Home

Newly arrived refugees need housing immediately upon arrival but their situation is unique. It takes 2-4 weeks after arrival to Minnesota for refugees to receive other forms of identification, e.g. their social security card and photo identification, even though they apply within their first few days here. All refugees have passed an extensive background check by the Department of Homeland Security and would not get to the United States without an impeccable criminal record. However, it is not possible to run a criminal background check on arriving or newly arrived refugees because they have no history in the U.S. Similarly, arriving and newly arrived refugees do not have any rental, employment, or credit history in the U.S.

• Using their one-time governmental grant funds, Arrive Ministries case managers create a budget to pay for the security deposit, 1-2 months of full rent and 3-4 months of half rent. The family’s low-income assistance programs allow them to cover the other half during those months. Most families start to pay full rent on their own around month 5 or 6. During this time, families are working with an employment counselor in order to find them adequate employment to sustain themselves financially long term.

• Refugees have come from very difficult situations and are very strong, determined, and hard-working people. They are driven to create a safe and stable environment for their families despite all odds. This means they will do their best to be good tenants who are respectful of property, neighbors, and apartment managers.

  Arrive Ministries provides extensive training to new refugees on how to be good tenants. Refugees are taught by their case managers that rent is the most important monthly bill to pay, and are therefore more likely to pay rent on time even when they have limited income.