Refugee Services
Every Journey Is Unique
Every refugee’s story is different, but most follow a similar path to safety. It often takes years, sometimes decades, and involves loss, uncertainty, and remarkable resilience.
Here’s what that journey typically looks like
War, Persecution, or Disaster Strikes
Refugees don’t choose to leave home. They’re forced out by war, violence, persecution based on who they are, or natural disasters that make survival impossible. Learn more about what makes someone a refugee.
The Decision to Flee
Leaving means abandoning homes, careers, extended family, and everything familiar — often with little more than what can be carried. It’s rarely a choice made lightly; it’s made because staying has become too dangerous.
Life in a Refugee Camp
Most refugees first arrive in a neighboring country, often living in refugee camps for years while they wait for a path forward. Camps can range from small settlements to sprawling communities of hundreds of thousands of people. Some of the world’s largest include Kenya’s Dadaab and Kakuma camps, Bangladesh’s Kutupalong (home to one of the largest concentrations of Rohingya refugees), and Jordan’s Za’atari camp, which shelters Syrian refugees.
Applying for Resettlement
Refugees register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and, in some cases, are referred for resettlement to a third country. This process is lengthy and highly selective. Depending on international conditions and government policies, it can take several years—or even longer—for a refugee to be approved for resettlement. Because resettlement opportunities are extremely limited, the vast majority of the world’s refugees are never resettled and instead remain in their country of first asylum or in refugee camps for many years.
Resettlement and Relocation
Refugees approved for resettlement are assigned to a specific country and community; they don’t get to choose. A local resettlement agency helps coordinate their arrival, but refugees are typically responsible for repaying the cost of their own travel to their new home. Resettlement agencies help with things like: Finding initial housing, Enrolling children in school, Connecting families to healthcare and social services, Assisting with job placement and English classes.
Building a New Life with City of Refuge
For many refugees, arriving in the United States is not the end of the journey—it’s the beginning of a new one.
Some families arrive directly in Mid-Missouri through the refugee resettlement process. Others first resettle in another part of the country before relocating to Mid-Missouri to be closer to family, pursue employment opportunities, find more affordable housing, or build a stronger support network. These families are often called secondary migrants, and while they’ve already been admitted to the United States, many still face the same challenges of rebuilding their lives in a new community.
Whether a family is newly arrived or has lived in the United States for several years, learning English, finding employment, navigating healthcare and education, understanding unfamiliar systems, and building meaningful community all take time.
That’s where City of Refuge comes in.
Through relational care, education, and long-term development, we walk alongside refugee families as they build safe, stable, and thriving lives in Mid-Missouri. Our goal isn’t simply to help families get by. It’s to help them belong, become self-sufficient, and flourish in the community they now call home.
Programs & Services
City of Refuge provides programs and services for refugees in Mid-Missouri from their first days in the community and beyond. Our services are designed around the full refugee journey, meeting immediate needs, building meaningful relationships, providing education, and creating opportunities for refugees to become safe, stable, and thriving.
Immediate Care & Support
Case Management
Each story is different. Our relationship-based case management connects refugees with personalized support, community resources, and practical solutions that help them navigate life in Mid-Missouri.
Buddy Program
Volunteer mentors are paired with refugee families or individuals to build friendships, provide practical support, and help build connections to their new community.
Wardrobe and Basic Needs Closet
Free clothing, personal hygiene items, household essentials, and other necessities help families establish their homes and meet ongoing needs with dignity.
Food Pantry
In partnership with The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, we provide supplemental groceries and nutritious food to people experiencing food insecurity.
Legal & Health Services
RCA, RSS
Eligible refugee families receive individualized support through federally funded Office of Refugee Resettlement programs, including employment assistance, resource navigation, and services that promote long-term stability.
Health Clinics
Volunteer healthcare professionals provide health education, screenings, referrals, and care coordination that helps with access and understanding the healthcare system.
Immigration Legal Services
As a U.S. Department of Justice Accredited Organization, City of Refuge provides trusted immigration legal services, including consultations, applications, and immigration case management.
Driver’s Education
Classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel preparation, and driving simulator training help new drivers gain the skills and confidence needed for greater independence.
Education & Youth Development
Adult English Classes
English language classes help adult learners build confidence in everyday communication, employment, healthcare, and life in the United States.
Digital Literacy Classes
Hands-on technology training equips students with the digital skills needed for work, education, communication, and daily life.
Citizenship Classes
Volunteer-led classes prepare eligible residents for the U.S. naturalization process, including civics, English, and interview preparation.
City Preschool
Our cross-cultural preschool provides children with a strong educational foundation while supporting social-emotional growth and kindergarten readiness.
Youth Programs
After-school and enrichment programs help children and teens build confidence, develop leadership skills, explore new opportunities, and celebrate their cultures.
City Strings
Music education fosters creativity, discipline, confidence, and personal growth while creating opportunities for students to learn and perform together.
Community & Economic Empowerment
Global Artisan Program
Refugee artisans build community, preserve cultural traditions, develop creative skills, and earn supplemental income through handcrafted products sold in City Boutique. More than a business opportunity, the program creates connection, belonging, and confidence through shared creativity.
Garden Plots at Shalom Property
In partnership with the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, families grow culturally familiar produce, build community, and improve access to healthy food.
Cooking Classes
Participants strengthen English skills, learn commercial kitchen techniques, explore entrepreneurship, and share the rich culinary traditions of their home countries.
Career Empowerment
Individuals identify their strengths, prepare for employment, pursue career advancement, and connect with opportunities that lead to long-term financial stability.
