named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Employment Support
Connects newly arrived refugees and SIV holders with local job opportunities and provides resume development, interview preparation, and employer outreach.
Housing and Household Setup
Provides furniture, appliances, and home goods to help refugees furnish apartments and make them feel like home upon arrival.
Language Partners
Volunteer-based English language tutoring program that pairs refugees with native speakers for weekly conversation practice and workbook support.
Technology Assistance
Helps newcomers navigate essential digital portals including my.ny.gov, USCIS.gov, banking, and healthcare systems through volunteer tech support.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services 4 activities
- Community orientation and social integrationDelivers community orientation to help refugees adapt to life in the U.S., including guidance on grocery shopping, public transportation, library use, and other local resources. Organizes community gatherings between refugee families and local volunteers to foster connection, belonging, and long-term integration.
- Fundraising and financial oversight for resettlement programsManages fundraising strategy, execution, and financial oversight to support refugee resettlement operations, including covering costs such as airfare when government funding is unavailable.
- Resettlement and integration support for refugeesProvides comprehensive resettlement services to federally-sponsored refugees, including housing placement, lease signing assistance, and fully furnished apartments with essential household and personal care items. Supports refugee families in Ossining, Cold Spring, White Plains, and surrounding Westchester communities through coordinated move-in logistics, airport welcome, and immediate post-arrival needs such as temporary housing, phones, and laptops.
- Volunteer coordination for refugee supportRecruits, tracks, and assigns community volunteers to provide sustained support to refugee families, typically around 5–6 hours per week over a 6-month period, helping them integrate into the local community.
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Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Policy Reform 1 activity
- Advocacy for refugee resettlementConducted advocacy campaigns to support the resettlement of vetted Afghan refugees in Westchester, including organizing postcard and email outreach efforts to influence decision-makers.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Employment and financial literacy supportSupports refugee employment by identifying job opportunities, building skills, preparing for interviews, and securing jobs. Provides financial literacy training including budgeting, bank account setup, credit management, and tax assistance, with a goal of achieving self-sufficiency within 6–12 months.
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Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
- Healthcare and government services navigationAssists refugees in accessing healthcare, including Medicaid enrollment, health insurance selection, medical screenings, and establishing a medical home. Helps families navigate local government systems by supporting applications for Social Security cards, SNAP benefits, identification documents, DMV services, and other public benefits.
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ESL and Citizenship Instruction 1 activity
- Language and education support for refugeesOffers English language learning through tutoring teams, ESOL arrangements, and weekly conversation practice sessions. Supports school enrollment for refugee children, advocates for their educational needs, and identifies adult education opportunities for family members.
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Non-Emergency Medical & Essential Transportation 1 activity
- Transportation and technology access supportProvides transportation assistance for refugee families to medical appointments, school meetings, and government offices. Offers technology access and digital literacy support through provision of laptops and volunteer-led guidance on using digital portals and apps.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$183K
Contributions & grants$181K99%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$1K1%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$187K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$28K
balance sheet
Total assets$260K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$249K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -5.8%
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Career Closet Partner — Collaborates with Career Closet to provide clothing and professional attire for refugees.
- Catholic Charities Partner — Federally-sponsored resettlement agency partner providing coordination and support for refugee resettlement.
- Cold Spring Partner — Local community partner in refugee resettlement efforts
- Furniture Sharehouse Partner — Collaborates with Furniture Sharehouse to obtain furniture for refugee homes.
- George Latimer Partner — Local congressman supported in advocacy efforts to resettle vetted Afghan refugees.
- HIAS Government — Liaises with HIAS, a resettlement agency, to coordinate refugee support services.
- HIAS Partner — Federally-sponsored resettlement agency partner providing coordination and support for refugee resettlement.
- HIAS Partner — Partner organization overseeing Open Arms' work with SIV recipients.
- IFCA Thrift Shop Partner — Partners with IFCA Thrift Shop to source furniture and household items for refugee families.
- Mike Lawler Partner — Local congressman supported in advocacy efforts to resettle vetted Afghan refugees.
- NYC TLC Partner — Representatives participated in a film event hosted by Open Arms for Refugees.
- Neighbors Link Partner — Representatives participated in a film event hosted by Open Arms for Refugees.
- Ossining Partner — Local community partner in refugee resettlement efforts
- Ossining for Refugees Partner — Collaborates through shared email communications and coordination, as indicated by the use of info@Ossiningforrefugees.org for partnership inquiries.
- Ossining for Refugees Partner — Community Sponsorship organization collaborating with Open Arms For Refugees to welcome and integrate refugees.
- St. Johns Thrift Shop Partner — Works with St. Johns Thrift Shop to acquire furnishings and supplies for refugee homes.
- Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Hudson Valley Partner — Co-hosted a community screening of "The Arrivals" film with Open Arms for Refugees.
- Westchester Community College (WCC) Partner — Enrolled newly arrived SIV recipients in online English language courses.
- community organizations Partner — Partners with local community organizations in Ossining, Cold Spring, and surrounding areas to support refugee resettlement.
- houses of worship Partner — Collaborates with local houses of worship as part of a community sponsorship network to support refugee integration.
- key service providers Partner — Works with key service providers to deliver integrated support to refugee families during resettlement.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Sponsorship Modelmethodology: community_sponsorshipBy mobilizing local volunteers, faith groups, and service providers to collectively support refugees, we produce faster and more sustainable integration because social belonging and practical assistance are co-delivered through trusted community networks.
- Reciprocal Empowerment Through Mentorshipmethodology: reciprocal_empowermentBy creating two-way learning relationships where refugees and volunteers mentor each other, we produce mutual empowerment and dignity because knowledge exchange builds trust and challenges hierarchical service dynamics.
- Time-Bound Self-Sufficiency Approachmethodology: self-sufficiency_timelineBy setting clear goals and providing targeted support over a defined 6–12 month period, we produce financial self-sufficiency in refugee families because structured timelines create accountability and focus across service providers and sponsors.