Most of the refugees resettled in a community will have a local sponsor and will have been resettled by one of the national voluntary agencies. The sponsor may be an individual, a church, a civic organization, a state or local government, or other local group or organization.
In resettling the refugee, the resettlement agency and the sponsor have a moral commitment to provide shelter and food, clothing and pocket money, provide assistance in finding employment and enrollment of children in school, and covering ordinary medical costs. Once employment is found, the sponsor will assist the refugee to locate permanent housing, acquire minimal furniture, and arrange for utilities.
Various circumstances may lead to a refugee's applying for public assistance (medical or financial). Applications for medical assistance may occur soon after resettlement and reflect the desire on the part of the sponsor to be protected against the possibility of high medical costs if major medical needs should arise. Application for financial assistance may occur when the material needs of the refugee exceed the assistance which is provided by the sponsor. View financial assistance as necessary supplemental assistance in instances in which the sponsor continues to meet some of the needs of the refugee, continuing the personal relationship with the refugee and helping in orientation and seeking employment. Some instances will also inevitably occur in which a sponsor will have discontinued all contact with a refugee or in which the refugee has discontinued contact with the sponsor.
When a refugee applies for public assistance: