Asylum Seeker Legal & Housing Program
Legal & Housing assistance for asylum seekers
In 2022, RCHP-AHC created a new program to attempt to meet the housing needs of the large number of asylum seekers who were paroled into the country from the southern border. In addition to identifying housing and raising funds to support rental costs, we also provided legal services through our partner agency DIRE Legal. Since January of 2025, the border has been effectively closed, but the needs of the thousands of asylum seekers in NJ (those in our housing, and thousands more) have become acute.
Starting in late 2024, our program shifted primarily to legal services, as we identified and were granted funds for self-filing asylum clinics and Employment Authorization Document (EAD, work permit) filing. The Asylum Seeker Legal and Housing Team works closely with the CAN! program and with DIRE to collectively meet the needs of asylum seekers.
Housing
Lease/SubleaseOur Lease/Sublease program features a lease/sublease model, which means that we lease an apartment/house and sublease individual units to our program participants. This model has several benefits as it allows us to offer a variety of housing options in different locations of the state so our participants can choose the area that works best for them and their needs.
Our shared housing model features affordable units that are shared between multiple participants to reduce the costs to a fraction of the rent. Units will have shared living spaces such as the bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms, but each tenant will have their own bedroom.
Support & Resources
Our program also provides additional support and resources that are tailored to each individuals’ needs, to help our participants succeed and become self-sufficient. We offer housing case management and support to assist families on the road to self-sufficiency. We are committed to helping our participants build a strong foundation for their future.
How to Apply
Our Partners
As a program of the Reformed Church of Highland Park Affordable Housing Corporation (RCHP-AHC), the Asylum Seeker Housing Program works in partnership with DIRE Support Services and DIRE Legal Services, programs of Churches Improving Communities.
