Afghan Resettlement - Home Bridge FAQ

No donation needed -- we are asking for you to join us in committing to renting to Afghan refugee families. Rent will be covered in full. Without credit history to their name or a job in the US as they’ve only just arrived, refugee families have a difficult time securing housing. This is where your generosity and empathy for the plight of refugees comes in -- check out our video of Abdul and family to hear first hand the importance of home for a newly displaced family. 
Participating properties will have the ultimate decision making authority on tenants who can move into their properties, and their standard rules, regulations and policies apply.

These families have already gone through extensive screening prior to entering the country. The US government screening and vetting process includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and additional Intelligence Community (IC) partners. The U.S. government has worked with urgency and care to enhance screening and vetting operations to make them more efficient without compromising national security. This has resulted in a robust interagency process that efficiently screens Afghans at risk prior to their travel to the United States.

Families are arriving every day! DHS expects the inflow of refugees to remain consistent through February 2022.

We are primarily requesting commitments for:
-Two and three bedroom units; however, one bedroom units are also acceptable
- Furnished units are preferred but unfurnished is acceptable
- Rent below $2,000/month
- Properties with easy access to public transportation

Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Dallas / Fort Worth, TX
Northern VA
Silver Spring, MD
Atlanta, GA
Phoenix, AZ
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
Salt Lake City, UT
Seattle, WA
Kent, WA
Minneapolis, MN
Raleigh, NC
Tampa, FL
Modesto / Turlock, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Indianapolis, IN
Baltimore, MD
Cleveland, OH
Austin, TX
Ann Arbor, MI
Greensboro, NC
Arlington, VA
Milwaukee, WI
Concord, CA
Grand Rapids, MI
Charlotte, NC
Spokane, WA
Portland, OR
San Jose, CA
Rochester, NY
Tacoma, WA
New York, NY
Houston, TX

Below is an overview of what will happen next:
- Your unit, building and contact details will be shared with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) . Refugee families are arriving every day and with the help of DHS and their local NGOs, aim to secure housing within the first month of arrival - so things are moving quickly. 
- Should  a family be identified for your committed unit, Morgan Ryan from DHS will reach out to you directly. 
- You will have the option of scheduling a 15 minute call with Morgan at DHS  should you have any lingering questions or concerns. 
- If you and the family elect to move forward with the lease, the local NGO and case manager will assist in logistics from there including getting the lease signed, key hand off, arranging utilities, etc.
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We are always a phone call or email away should you have any questions along the way!

We fully understand that unit availability is fluid - we do not expect nor do we ask that you hold the unit indefinitely for an Afghan family. We only ask that you commit to responding about your availability should a local NGO contact your property.

Oftentimes one or more members of the family knows at least basic English as they’ve worked with the US Embassy in some capacity. Should communication be difficult, the family’s case manager will be able to support any necessary dialog.