Opening Doors

Welcoming refugees: in 2023, we provided services to 1,635 refugees through our refugee services program. The majority of individuals served were afghan refugees, humanitarian parolees, and special immigrant visa holders. In addition, we also served refugees from iraq, the ukraine, and other countries of origin. We provide assistance in securing health care, housing, employment, and other basic living needs during the first 90-day arrival period. We are fortunate to have strong support from volunteers, local faith communities, and donors that help us ensure that adults receive english language development support and employment services, and children are enrolled in school as we welcome them to our community. The intensive case management program serves the most vulnerable refugees who require specialized services to achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

Expanding economic opportunity: our micro-lending, financial literacy, and career pathways programs support local businesses, stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and improve the financial well-being of our clients and their families. In 2023, our economic prosperity team provided $463,000 in loans to immigrant- and refugee-owned businesses. Our micro-loans and business counseling help entrepreneurs increase their assets and earning potential as well as develop their business skills with business development, cash flow projections, registering, licensing and marketing.

Supporting survivors: we provided comprehensive case management services to 101 survivors of human trafficking. Our support to survivors includes emergency, temporary, and permanent housing support in addition to case management services, which provides food, shelter, clothing, medical and mental health counseling, transportation and other essential services to both u.s.-born and foreign-born survivors of trafficking.

Defending immigrants: Opening Doors provided pro bono immigration legal services to 970 clients, both new and existing cases from prior years. Our services included applications filed for immigration relief, daca applications filed, t- and u-visa applications, and defense against removal.in addition to direct representation and consultation, we also continued our pro bono and pro se work. Each month, pro se clinics supported approximately 10-15 individuals adjusting their legal status.uplifting physical and mental wellbeing: Opening Doors provided 454 individuals with access to culturally-responsive mental and behavioral health care through a the provision of individualized therapy and support groups, and through support in navigating health care systems. Additionally, we continued our support groups for both afghan women and afghan men, in an effort to support refugees on their path to stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging and to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence in the sacramento afghan community.