New American Integration
The International Institute believes that refugees and immigrants are critical to the economic strength of Western New York. The foreign born are reversing population decline, driving workforce and small business growth, supporting innovation and home ownership, and expanding the cultural richness of our community.
Our work in support of integration includes the literal welcoming of new arrival refugees through our resettlement program, as well as employment support for those clients, secondary migrant refugees and non-refugee immigrants. Last, we work hard to foster connections among those working with immigrants and refugees and between ethnic community leaders and native born residents.
The International Institute of Buffalo has resettled refugees under the US program since 1980, working with our national partner, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services. Services are delivered in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, and are client-centered, while at the same time ensuring program compliance.
Welcoming Buffalo!
Buffalo has a strong history of welcoming immigrants and refugees. Thousands of families have been helped on their road to a new life in America. Successful integration, though, depends on the receiving community too.
Our Welcoming work focuses on building bridges between the receiving community and the refugee and immigrant communities. Some innovative work includes our mentoring of ethnic community organizations (Iraqi American Society, Bhutanese Nepali Community, Burmese Community Support Center), our work with several City block clubs to better connect with foreign born neighbors, and the establishment of the Buffalo Region Immigrant and Refugee Roundtable (BRIARR).
Resettlement
The International Institute is always looking for new landlord partnerships. Our clients receive training in how to be good tenants and neighbors. We find and prepare suitable housing so it is ready for our clients prior to their arrival. If you have rental property and are interested in renting to our clients, please call 716-883-1900 and ask to speak with a resettlement case manager or email dbeehag@iibuff.org.
Employment
The goal of the employment program is economic self-sufficiency for our clients. Our employment program offers individualized assessment, preparation and placement services to clients with a variety of language and educational abilities and skill sets. All of our clients have work authorization. We currently find employees for more than 300 employers in a variety of industries. We also customize training curricula based on employer needs and demand; examples include training programs in manufacturing, customer service, and hospitality. Fee-based, on site English as a Second Language and training classes are also available.
Our clients have skills to fill any position, and our employment outcomes are extremely impressive due to the work ethic of our clients. If you are interested in hiring one of our clients please call 716-883-1900 and ask for an employment staff member.
Volunteer
HELLO program: an in-home English tutoring Program that pairs volunteers with homebound clients (usually the elderly or mothers with small children). Volunteers are trained at the Institute and work with the client two hours a week for eight weeks teaching a picture based basic English curriculum.
Donation Drives: These are excellent opportunities for church or social groups to get involved. Donations of household goods and other required items mean that clients don’t have to spend rent money in the initial set up of their housing or on day to day expenses. Sample donation drive items might include: backpacks with school supplies, toiletries, kitchen items, etc.
Apartment Set Up: Volunteers can join our resettlement team in preparing an apartment for a newly arrived refugee family. Our movers will take care of the heavy lifting, but we need our volunteers to add the special touches that turn a house into a home!
For more information email volunteers@iibuffalo.org.
Resettlement
The International Institute is always looking for new landlord partnerships. Our clients receive training in how to be good tenants and neighbors. We find and prepare suitable housing so it is ready for our clients prior to their arrival. If you have rental property and are interested in renting to our clients, please call 716-883-1900 and ask to speak with a resettlement case manager or email dbeehag@iibuff.org.
Employment
The goal of the employment program is economic self-sufficiency for our clients. Our employment program offers individualized assessment, preparation and placement services to clients with a variety of language and educational abilities and skill sets. All of our clients have work authorization. We currently find employees for more than 300 employers in a variety of industries. We also customize training curricula based on employer needs and demand; examples include training programs in manufacturing, customer service, and hospitality. Fee-based, on site English as a Second Language and training classes are also available.
Our clients have skills to fill any position, and our employment outcomes are extremely impressive due to the work ethic of our clients. If you are interested in hiring one of our clients please call 716-883-1900 and ask for an employment staff member.
Volunteer
HELLO program: an in-home English tutoring Program that pairs volunteers with homebound clients (usually the elderly or mothers with small children). Volunteers are trained at the Institute and work with the client two hours a week for eight weeks teaching a picture based basic English curriculum.
Donation Drives: These are excellent opportunities for church or social groups to get involved. Donations of household goods and other required items mean that clients don’t have to spend rent money in the initial set up of their housing or on day to day expenses. Sample donation drive items might include: backpacks with school supplies, toiletries, kitchen items, etc.
Apartment Set Up: Volunteers can join our resettlement team in preparing an apartment for a newly arrived refugee family. Our movers will take care of the heavy lifting, but we need our volunteers to add the special touches that turn a house into a home!
For more information email volunteers@iibuffalo.org.
Resettlement
The International Institute is always looking for new landlord partnerships. Our clients receive training in how to be good tenants and neighbors. We find and prepare suitable housing so it is ready for our clients prior to their arrival. If you have rental property and are interested in renting to our clients, please call 716-883-1900 and ask to speak with a resettlement case manager or email dbeehag@iibuff.org.
Employment
The goal of the employment program is economic self-sufficiency for our clients. Our employment program offers individualized assessment, preparation and placement services to clients with a variety of language and educational abilities and skill sets. All of our clients have work authorization. We currently find employees for more than 300 employers in a variety of industries. We also customize training curricula based on employer needs and demand; examples include training programs in manufacturing, customer service, and hospitality. Fee-based, on site English as a Second Language and training classes are also available.
Our clients have skills to fill any position, and our employment outcomes are extremely impressive due to the work ethic of our clients. If you are interested in hiring one of our clients please call 716-883-1900 and ask for an employment staff member.
Volunteer
HELLO program: an in-home English tutoring Program that pairs volunteers with homebound clients (usually the elderly or mothers with small children). Volunteers are trained at the Institute and work with the client two hours a week for eight weeks teaching a picture based basic English curriculum.
Donation Drives: These are excellent opportunities for church or social groups to get involved. Donations of household goods and other required items mean that clients don’t have to spend rent money in the initial set up of their housing or on day to day expenses. Sample donation drive items might include: backpacks with school supplies, toiletries, kitchen items, etc.
Apartment Set Up: Volunteers can join our resettlement team in preparing an apartment for a newly arrived refugee family. Our movers will take care of the heavy lifting, but we need our volunteers to add the special touches that turn a house into a home!
For more information email volunteers@iibuffalo.org.
Resettlement
The International Institute is always looking for new landlord partnerships. Our clients receive training in how to be good tenants and neighbors. We find and prepare suitable housing so it is ready for our clients prior to their arrival. If you have rental property and are interested in renting to our clients, please call 716-883-1900 and ask to speak with a resettlement case manager or email dbeehag@iibuff.org.
Employment
The goal of the employment program is economic self-sufficiency for our clients. Our employment program offers individualized assessment, preparation and placement services to clients with a variety of language and educational abilities and skill sets. All of our clients have work authorization. We currently find employees for more than 300 employers in a variety of industries. We also customize training curricula based on employer needs and demand; examples include training programs in manufacturing, customer service, and hospitality. Fee-based, on site English as a Second Language and training classes are also available.
Our clients have skills to fill any position, and our employment outcomes are extremely impressive due to the work ethic of our clients. If you are interested in hiring one of our clients please call 716-883-1900 and ask for an employment staff member.
Volunteer
HELLO program: an in-home English tutoring Program that pairs volunteers with homebound clients (usually the elderly or mothers with small children). Volunteers are trained at the Institute and work with the client two hours a week for eight weeks teaching a picture based basic English curriculum.
Donation Drives: These are excellent opportunities for church or social groups to get involved. Donations of household goods and other required items mean that clients don’t have to spend rent money in the initial set up of their housing or on day to day expenses. Sample donation drive items might include: backpacks with school supplies, toiletries, kitchen items, etc.
Apartment Set Up: Volunteers can join our resettlement team in preparing an apartment for a newly arrived refugee family. Our movers will take care of the heavy lifting, but we need our volunteers to add the special touches that turn a house into a home!
For more information email volunteers@iibuffalo.org.
Resettlement
The International Institute is always looking for new landlord partnerships. Our clients receive training in how to be good tenants and neighbors. We find and prepare suitable housing so it is ready for our clients prior to their arrival. If you have rental property and are interested in renting to our clients, please call 716-883-1900 and ask to speak with a resettlement case manager or email dbeehag@iibuff.org.
Employment
The goal of the employment program is economic self-sufficiency for our clients. Our employment program offers individualized assessment, preparation and placement services to clients with a variety of language and educational abilities and skill sets. All of our clients have work authorization. We currently find employees for more than 300 employers in a variety of industries. We also customize training curricula based on employer needs and demand; examples include training programs in manufacturing, customer service, and hospitality. Fee-based, on site English as a Second Language and training classes are also available.
Our clients have skills to fill any position, and our employment outcomes are extremely impressive due to the work ethic of our clients. If you are interested in hiring one of our clients please call 716-883-1900 and ask for an employment staff member.
Volunteer
HELLO program: an in-home English tutoring Program that pairs volunteers with homebound clients (usually the elderly or mothers with small children). Volunteers are trained at the Institute and work with the client two hours a week for eight weeks teaching a picture based basic English curriculum.
Donation Drives: These are excellent opportunities for church or social groups to get involved. Donations of household goods and other required items mean that clients don’t have to spend rent money in the initial set up of their housing or on day to day expenses. Sample donation drive items might include: backpacks with school supplies, toiletries, kitchen items, etc.
Apartment Set Up: Volunteers can join our resettlement team in preparing an apartment for a newly arrived refugee family. Our movers will take care of the heavy lifting, but we need our volunteers to add the special touches that turn a house into a home!
For more information email volunteers@iibuffalo.org.
Community Resources
Welcoming Economies Global Network
Refugee and immigrant economic impact
New American Economy
Refugee and immigrant economic impact
NYS Refugee Coordinator
Refugee processing, data and statistics
Refugee Processing Center
Refugee processing, data and statistics
USCRI
Resettlement and program information
US State Department
Resettlement and program information
ORR
Resettlement and program information
United Nations