Housing Help for amazing Haitian family

We are actively seeking funds and/or housing for the Cassis family, who are recent immigrants to the United States and Sonoma County from Haiti via Chile. The family has undergone a challenging journey, initially from Haiti to a temporary refuge in Chile, and eventually to Mexico to pursue official asylum in the United States.

Jerry the Father shared that “In Haiti after the earthquake in 2010, everything was difficult. There was no work. There was insecurity. People were being killed. There were kidnappings. We and our friends and community leaders went to the countryside, to Jakmel but the problem was even worse there. There still was no work, not enough food for the children and they still couldn't go to school. I was forced to leave Haiti. I had to look for a better life and decided to go to Chile on December 8, 2015. In Chile I went to school. The children went to school, but the Chileans came to our neighborhood and were racist towards us. They threatened me. I would leave very early in the morning for terrible work. Some Chilean men pulled guns on me. The children also suffered discrimination. These same dangerous men brought other men to come and fight with us. They would ask us, “Why did you come to our country? You are taking our jobs!” And when we went to the police, the police would say, “Chile is our country, not your country!” They would say we are not from this country and have no rights. We could not go back to Haiti because of the dangers there and we couldn’t stay in Chile because it also was also dangerous and insecure. I was brought into the house of people who kill people, kidnap people. I was asked for money that I don't have. Because of the this we then had to plan to leave Chile and try to enter the United

States."

Members of this family were threatened in Haiti and one of their brothers was shot and left for dead but the gang didn’t know he was still alive. The criminal gang targeted them because they

had a small in-home store where they sold small food and drink items. The gang wanted their money. This gang had shot others in their neighborhood.  Jerry and his brother fled along with

thousands of other Haitians escaping this violence. They migrated to Chile to live and find work. They tried to resettle for 4 years in Chile. New Haitian immigrants were met with increasing discrimination and violent harassment in Chile and blamed for COVID.  Jerry’s brother was threatened by men with knives multiple times just walking down the street. Both Jerry and his brother decided to flee again. Jerry sent for his family as he described above. They managed to get from Chile by bus, a ride network and by walking for hundreds of miles, a daunting 4000-mile ordeal. Makenson, Jerry's brother crossed the border in the summer of 2021. Jerry crossed in 2022. He presented himself at the border in September 2022 requesting asylum.

Jerry, the father, now holds a full-time healthcare position, working nights at Sonoma Specialty Hospital in Sebastopol. In addition, he occasionally takes on a second job during the day. Proficient in Haitian Kreyol, French, Spanish, and some English, Jerry also received training in legal work in Haiti.

Rosena, the mother, and Johnyssa, the daughter, have undergone training at the Graton Labor Center in Sonoma County, and they are engaged in work within Sebastopol homes, primarily providing cleaning services. The eldest son attends the local High School, while the two younger children are enrolled at the nearby Elementary School.

Despite enduring numerous hardships during their arduous journey, the Cassis family aspires to integrate into the Sonoma County community. Given the high cost of living in the area, housing poses a significant challenge, particularly for those emerging from circumstances similar to the Cassis family's. They are a humble and hardworking family, they would greatly benefit from assistance as they embark on their new life in the United States.

Recognizing the proverbial saying, "It takes a village," we appeal to our community for support in welcoming this new family to our country and local community. All funds contributed here will be directly allocated to the family, aiding them in covering the expenses associated with moving, rent, and deposits required for securing housing in Sonoma County. Also if you know of someone with a rental home in the Sebastopol-Santa Rosa area please contact us.

Vicki from the North Bay Rapid

Response Network Accompaniment Teams expresses, "They are a warm, caring, educated, resourceful family, and we take pride in their remarkable progress within just a few months."