Now more than ever local communities are called upon to stand by immigrants in our communities. SOMA-U Refugee Support —a grassroots group of local South Orange/Maplewood area residents dedicated to supporting and helping resettle immigrants into their new lives in the U.S.—invites you to join us to support a newly arrived family working hard to build a better life here in New Jersey.

A young couple from Africa arrived in the U.S. with their two-year-old son at the end of January. Our group met them on July 1, the day they unexpectedly lost their apartment and became homeless. Thanks to the generosity of neighbors, we quickly secured housing, jobs and childcare for them, and have been assisting them for the past year in building a life in New Jersey.

The couple has decided to separate. The young mother, who is balancing her work with her need to be with her three-year-old son, works two part-time jobs. She is, therefore, unable to fully pay for her monthly rent.