Our Working Model

As faith communities, we want to welcome those we are hosting with open arms, but we also want to be ready to provide the support they will need to best be set up for success. We are not here to take away anyone’s independence, nor are we here to provide paternalistic patronage. The people coming here seeking asylum and shelter have been through unimaginable hardship to get here, not to mention the indignities they have faced while here already. They are people who deserve dignity, respect, privacy, and hope. It is our duty to show them the abundance of our communities and the welcoming heart of Chicago.

Asylum Seekers do not have many legal protections in this country, and they are not permitted to get paid above the table until their work authorization comes in. Because of the influx of Asylum Seekers at this time, the courts have been overloaded with cases to review and the already long wait times have increased. Due to this, a host community (or group of communities) will need to be prepared to commit long term to hosting people for at least a year. During that year, the financial, spacial, and relational demands will vary. We are here to help you through figuring everything out.

Again, we encourage anyone interested in getting involved in this work to visit the pages linked on this site for Housing, Donating, and Volunteering. If you are considering becoming involved and would like to know more, we encourage people to come to one of our Training Sessions to learn more and get set up for success moving forward.