Overview
The Office of Community Services of the Department of Social Services (DSS) is responsible for disbursing federal funds related to the resettlement of refugees in Connecticut. Refugees are assigned by the U.S. State Department to local affiliates of national voluntary resettlement agencies in Connecticut. DSS disburses federal refugee assistance program funds, administers refugee cash and medical assistance programs and monitors resettlement activity for individuals who qualify as refugees under international law. A refugee can request to become a legal permanent resident after one-year residence in the U.S. and can apply for U.S. citizenship five years after their date of entry to the U.S.
DSS regional offices administer the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) programs for refugees for up to eight months from their date of entry to the U.S. DSS also provides refugees with temporary family assistance/cash assistance, medical coverage and food stamp assistance under those public assistance programs since refugees qualify as legal non-citizens.
The State contracts with the following agencies to provide resettlement services including case management, employment assistance, and additional supportive services to refugees:
- Catholic Charities Migration, Refugee and Immigration Services, 35 Groton Street, Hartford, CT 06106, (860) 297-7800, www.ccaoh.org Opens in a new window
- Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, 670 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605, (203) 336-0141, https://cirict.org/ Opens in a new window
- Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, 235 Nicoll Street, New Haven, CT 06511, (203) 562-2095, www.irisct.org Opens in a new window
- Jewish Federation of CT, Inc., 40 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105, (860) 727-5701, www.jfact.org Opens in a new window
- Connecticut Coalition of Mutual Assistance Associations, Inc., 2074 Park Street, Hartford, CT 06106, (860) 236-6452, ct.coalition@yahoo.com
The following are the total number of new refugee arrivals to Connecticut for the corresponding federal fiscal years (October 1 through September 30):
FFY 2009 351 | FFY 2012 436 | FFY 2015 819 | FFY 2018 156 |
FFY 2010 507 | FFY 2013 548 | FFY 2016 837 | FFY 2019 142 |
FFY 2011 447 | FFY 2014 545 | FFY 2017 452 |