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Holly Johnson (State Refugee Coordinator, Tennessee Office for Refugees) | Sep 14, 2011 | Tennessee Office for Refugees

Refugees are admitted to the U.S. legally and are eligible for the same benefits — nothing more — as are native-born citizens. They are financially self-sufficient within a few months and are not dependent on public welfare, but on their own earned income.

In fact, only 3 percent of the refugees who were resettled in Tennessee in the past 24 months received any substantial public welfare assistance.

TOR | Sep 09, 2010 | Tennessee Office for Refugees

Chattanooga refugees, resettled by TOR partner agency Bridge Refugee Services, have seen some recent press coverage on a variety of topics. Last week, The Chattanoogan highlighted one family who received a new home with the help of Habitat for Humanity:

TOR | Jul 06, 2010 | Tennessee Office for Refugees

In the wake of the Fourth of July holiday, those of us at TOR are celebrating the freedom and security that thousands of our refugee clients have found in the United States. Over the weekend, the Chattanooga Times Free Press published a special feature highlighting the lives and experiences of several Chattanooga residents, including one Iraqi refugee who was resettled by Bridge Refugee Services:

TOR | Jun 15, 2010 | Tennessee Office for Refugees

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are forced to leave their home countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution, having been targeted for their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Many of these refugees arrive in Tennessee each year.

TOR | May 25, 2010 | Tennessee Office for Refugees

Last week, the Chattanooga Times Free Press featured an article on Chattanooga's Southside--a diverse neighborhood where many refugees are resettled by TOR affiliate Bridge Refugee Services. Though as many as ten different languages are represented in this community, these individuals have found common ground as refugees and newcomers in the United States and are able to help and support each other as they make a new home here in Tennessee.

TOR | May 10, 2010 | Tennessee Office for Refugees

Beginning this month, the Tennessee Office for Refugees is offering a quarterly newsletter with updates about the services provided by our partners across the state, issues that impact our refugee clients, and resources for learning more about refugees in Tennessee. You can view this month's e-newsletter online and sign up to receive future updates on our About Us page.