Resettlement Agencies
Why you need a resettlement agency
In the first months after your arrival, you will need to navigate a complex system of local government agencies and private companies to be able to apply for work authorization, medical insurance, and other benefits, as well as open a bank account and find housing. The U4U program assumes that your sponsors and family members in the US will assist you in the process. However, most of the time they will be equally unfamiliar with the system. That is why we recommend that, to the extent possible, every Ukrainian arrival contacts their local resettlement agencies and other non-profit organizations assisting with resettlement. These agencies have qualified case workers (often Ukrainian and Russian speaking) who can help you navigate your first steps in the country, answer a lot of questions, and refer you to other services in the area (e.g. ESL, legal aid, etc).
To choose an agency, we recommend following these steps:
Identify all the agencies that service your area (look at the state and county they service).
Rank the agencies based on the proximity, and services you need.
Call the top 3 on the list and see which one is able to accommodate you the soonest. In some places, you need to email, in some call/leave a voicemail, and in some fill out a form. If there is more than one option, — we suggest utilizing all.
If you go to an agency and do not like it, you can try a different one.
We welcome your feedback!
Due to funding availability and the volume of arrivals, information on agencies can change.
If you find significant differences, want to add an organization you work for or love, or provide any other feedback, fill out this form or send us an email!