Fixer-Upper for Refugee Women
Donation protected
Two women from Aleppo, Syria, made it through the intense vetting system into the United States - via Jordan - and to the Atlanta area eight months ago. The two women are thankfully alive but they are having a tough time here. A 19-year-old and her 54-year-old mother are all that is probably left of a family from Aleppo, as the father and brother have been missing for months and are presumed dead.
They are taking English classes and looking for work (they have all necessary papers) to support themselves. As of September, when the women celebrated their third month in the U.S., they stopped receiving rent assistance and faced the prospect of homelessness. A house has now been provided to them and with some work, this 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house will become their home until they get back on their feet and can hopefully start living a more normal life. Of course, "normal" is difficult to determine, grasping what they have been through.
It takes a village! So, we are asking for funds to help refurbish the home (painting inside and out, some HVAC work, and to help with utilities in the coming months). Our goal is to raise $10,000, which will go into an escrow account to pay for services rendered and monthly utility bills for this family, or possibly for other refugee families who may use the house in the future.
Ashley is the owner of the house. She will withdraw the funds in her name into a checking account set up for the refugee women. The funds will be used to pay contractors for repairs done to the home prior to the women moving in. So far, these repairs have included: Fixing roof leaks, installing insulation, replacing damaged flooring, replacing damaged siding, stripping peeling interior paint and applying new paint, and fixing damaged plumbing. Some goods services have been donated by volunteers and local contractors. If there is money left over after the necessary repairs have been done, that money will remain in the account and be used to pay utility bills and maintain the home. If the women experience any emergencies, be they medical or financial, the money may be used to assist in covering those expenses.
I am a coordinator for the co-sponsorship of another refugee family in the Atlanta area. Seeing the difference that this kind of support makes, and seeing the difficulties that these women are facing without it, I began this fundraiser as the representative of a group of concerned friends and neighbors--including the refugee family I have worked with, who were neighbors of the women while all were in Jordan.
Only 10% of refugees benefit from a co-sponsor organization after resettling in America. This family is relying solely on the kindness and generosity of others as they are not part of that 10%. We have amazing friends/contractors who are helping with much of this at cost, but we still need financial help to provide for this family. Even $5.00 goes a long way. Many thanks!
They are taking English classes and looking for work (they have all necessary papers) to support themselves. As of September, when the women celebrated their third month in the U.S., they stopped receiving rent assistance and faced the prospect of homelessness. A house has now been provided to them and with some work, this 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house will become their home until they get back on their feet and can hopefully start living a more normal life. Of course, "normal" is difficult to determine, grasping what they have been through.
It takes a village! So, we are asking for funds to help refurbish the home (painting inside and out, some HVAC work, and to help with utilities in the coming months). Our goal is to raise $10,000, which will go into an escrow account to pay for services rendered and monthly utility bills for this family, or possibly for other refugee families who may use the house in the future.
Ashley is the owner of the house. She will withdraw the funds in her name into a checking account set up for the refugee women. The funds will be used to pay contractors for repairs done to the home prior to the women moving in. So far, these repairs have included: Fixing roof leaks, installing insulation, replacing damaged flooring, replacing damaged siding, stripping peeling interior paint and applying new paint, and fixing damaged plumbing. Some goods services have been donated by volunteers and local contractors. If there is money left over after the necessary repairs have been done, that money will remain in the account and be used to pay utility bills and maintain the home. If the women experience any emergencies, be they medical or financial, the money may be used to assist in covering those expenses.
I am a coordinator for the co-sponsorship of another refugee family in the Atlanta area. Seeing the difference that this kind of support makes, and seeing the difficulties that these women are facing without it, I began this fundraiser as the representative of a group of concerned friends and neighbors--including the refugee family I have worked with, who were neighbors of the women while all were in Jordan.
Only 10% of refugees benefit from a co-sponsor organization after resettling in America. This family is relying solely on the kindness and generosity of others as they are not part of that 10%. We have amazing friends/contractors who are helping with much of this at cost, but we still need financial help to provide for this family. Even $5.00 goes a long way. Many thanks!
Organizer and beneficiary
Al Effendi
Organizer
Decatur, GA
Ashley Derrick
Beneficiary
