Good Neighbors Capitol Hill

Most of the families we serve are from Afghanistan and arrive with SIV status (Special Immigration Visa) because they were employed with the U.S. military or embassy.  However, GNCH volunteers have also assisted families from Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America.

The families from Afghanistan speak Dari or Pashto.  However, most of the husbands have some English capacity and the children are gaining English quickly in school and from television.  The wives are eager to learn some survival English so they are less dependent.  

Spanish and French are the other two most predominant languages. Since there are many Spanish and French speakers in the DMV area, they have an easier time adapting.

Refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers would never choose to leave their homeland under normal circumstances, but they are fleeing life-threatening circumstances.  The Afghans who worked for the U.S. agencies have become targets by those who oppose the U.S. government interventions. Other refugees are facing persecution and/or death threats in their home country for a variety of reasons--religion, ethnicity, political beliefs and sexual orientation. 

The housing for families is arranged by resettlement agencies and by friends, families, or religious organizations.  GNCH primarily had been working with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) who secured apartments and initial rental payments and requested GNCH to set-up the apartment. With the loss of resettlement funds, resettlement agencies and other entities are finding other ways to provide initial housing support. GNCH does not pay for housing.

While stipends are no longer automatically available through Federal funding for their first three months in the U.S, case worker from LSS or other resettlement agency helps them to register with the state social service agencies, children are enrolled in the local school system and each family member receives initial dental and medical examinations to determine a base line for their health needs. Basic employment counseling and entry level options are suggested to arriving heads of household.  

This is the challenge.  It is the reason the resettlement agencies recruit volunteers and donors and friends to assist in mentoring and befriending refugee families.  The transition to independence and sustainability is a long process.  Previously resettlement agencies allotted 3 months financial assistance to for each family. Now resources are substantially more limited. Heads of household usually find entry level jobs quickly and can provide for some of their own support. Faith-based organizations and other groups adopt families for a specific length of time to help them establish their own financial stability. Refugees have eligibility to receive Medicaid assistance in Maryland and Virginia, but not the District of Columbia. Sadly, refugee eligibility for one crucial form of assistance, the Federal Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP), was discontinued in November of 2025 under provisions of the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. How states will respond and what additional help refugee families will need to address food insecurity is still to be determined. Additional assistance may be needed as during COVID when employment opportunities were curtailed. During that period, GNCH was able to provide LSS with $40,000 for distribution to refugee families in need, thanks to our generous donors.