A Successful Collaboration Supporting Asylum Seekers
Since 2024 we have partnered each summer with the San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) and the University of San Francisco to offer 8 weeks of housing in unused on-campus dorms to 10 asylum seekers.
We are seeking to expand our work to create similar partnerships with other college campuses throughout the Bay Area!
Interns from USF embody the institution’s values of “Change the World from Here” to provide essential case management. Interns link guests to community-based services in San Francisco such as obtaining IDs, food banks, and accessing medical care. Interns also teach people to use google maps and BART, enroll students in ESL classes, and guests to community activities. We also partner with pro bono legal services in order submit asylum and work permit applications.
For interested interns, see our USF Summer Newcomer Housing Intern FAQ
Volunteers from the community played an invaluable role for food deliveries, move-in day, and special outings.
Together, we create welcoming community
For more details on the success of this program from a student’s perspective, check out this article in USF News written by one of our 2024 USF interns: Kemelyn Alvarado’s Story: Supporting Newcomers at USF
A Partnership That’s Expanding Nationwide
This initiative is a powerful example of community collaboration, and we’re excited to announce that IM4HI is partnering with Every Campus a Refuge to expand this pilot program to other colleges campuses across the United States. We hope all college campuses will consider offering their unused student housing over the summer to be a part of the solution for asylum seekers.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible—from the interns and volunteers to the legal teams and community partners.
Want to support our work? We are raising $20,000.00 to cover costs for the dorm room stays, welcome funds for each asylum seeker, and emergency funds to assist with their next housing opportunity. Please donate HERE
To get involved in our USF Summer Newcomer Housing program, or to bring this program to your campus, please contact Kelly Younger, Accompaniment Manager, at kyounger@im4humanintegrity.org