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Date: 11/16/2021
SPRINGFIELD – In its continued partnership with the nonprofit refugee resettlement and protection organization HIAS, The Jewish Family Service of Western Mass (JFSWM) has received a four-year, $1 million grant.
The monetary award is coming from the Individual Development Accounts (IDA) program grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and will dispense $250,000 over the next four years. Citizenship and Immigration Program Director Robert Radin explained how the grant money will be utilized to further JFSWM’s efforts in advocating for American newcomers on their path to citizenship.
“All staff in the Jewish Family Service Citizenship and Immigration Program are accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals. In addition to preparing petitions for our clients, we serve as their legal representatives. We also provide citizenship classes and tutoring services for those who are unable to attend class due to their work schedules,” said Radin. The program director shared that the organization has an “extremely high” success rate in preparing clients for their citizenship tests.
Along with reinforcing the JFSWM’s citizenship efforts, the grant works with the IDA program to assist refugees financially. According to JFSWM’s press release, the program matches funds to allow individuals to save up for four different assets – to start or support a business, to purchase a vehicle to obtain and maintain employment education, to increase capital to purchase a home or invest in post-secondary education or training. For a single individual, savings can be matched for up to $2,000, while savings can be matched for up to $4,000 for families.
Financial stability is a key step toward integrating new Americans to society, which is why JFSWM provides a sturdy foundation of economic support. With the grant program, JFSWM aims to help refugees establish savings accounts, create regular savings habits, promote participation in the financial banking system, increase knowledge of financial topics, acquire assets and advance education opportunities, according to their press release.
In a statement, HIAS Program Manager of Economic Inclusion Keith Combs expressed the impact this grant project will have. “This program provides an opportunity to build assets and knowledge that is vital to full economic integration,” said Combs. All the work that JFSWM and HIAS do build toward the ultimate goal of gaining United States citizenship for individuals.
“Feeling part of a new country and culture, feeling a sense of belonging, is a lifelong process for refugees and immigrants to the United States, but becoming a citizen is a huge symbolic moment, a milestone in that journey. All the more so because it takes so much work, so much effort, to become a citizen. When you see someone beaming with pride, holding up the U.S. flag at their oath ceremony, it’s quite moving,” said Radin.
Readers can learn more about JFSWM’s mission at https://www.jfswm.org/.