Wisconsin Church one of First in U.S. Asked to Help Re-Settle Syrian Refugees

HUDSON, WI — St. Patrick's Parish has been asked to assist with the resettlement of five Syrian refugee families into the area — one of the first parishes in the U.S. to be asked to spearhead re-settlement.

Church officials were asked by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to assist with the resettlement of the five Syrian refugee families — 21 total people— from a camp in Turkey to Hudson, according to a report by the Hudson Star-Observer.

The conference is one of several organizations that helps with the federal government’s refugee resettlement program, the Star Observer reports. State Department figures calculate the U.S. will admit 85,000 refugees this year through this program.

The federal government has already approved placement in the U.S. based on an 18-to-24-month vetting process. According to the Star-Observer, the church has been asked to help with case management services, such as finding housing, helping with employment and enrolling the children in school. Because local government does not have personnel needed to help with re-settlement, the conference has reached out to St. Patrick's.

The church has yet to make a decision.

Read more here:
http://www.hudsonstarobserver....

image: creative commons licensing