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FPC is working with the local office of Church World Service (CWS), which is one of three agencies in the state approved to coordinate and support the placement of refugees in communities in North Carolina Sponsoring families means the church finds an apartment or house to rent, furnishes it, and assists the family in getting settled. We also help the family get their kids enrolled in school and assist the adults members with finding jobs, getting enrolled in ESL classes if they need it, and possibly providing transportation. In general, we will have responsibility for supporting the family in whatever way we can to make their transition to living in Durham as smooth as possible.

Through some federal funding they receive, CWS provides each family with a small stipend to assist them in getting started and until they find jobs, but CWS recommends that the sponsoring congregation have at least $5,000 on hand to provide more support, and the actual amount needed is often quite a bit more.