Call Us: 408.556.0600
Refugee Resettlement Programs
Refugees Need Support Finding Affordable Housing!
JFS SV provides refugee resettlement and acculturation services for families and individuals.
- Pre-Arrival services and case management
- Connections to Work program providing Vocational ESL and employment services
- Job search skills and employment services
- Legal advice and assistance through Immigration Law Clinic
Refugee Council USA: Refugee Economic Contributions to the U.S.
Read this report on how refugees are large contributors to local economies,
and more.
ESL Programs
The Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) classes provide
opportunities to assist students in their listening, speaking, pronunciation,
writing, vocabulary development, and job search skills (including resume
development).
Class levels vary from Beginning/Intermediate to Advanced based on
students’ assessment. Class sessions and computer work will include
individual, pair and group sessions.
Classes are held from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday at our offices.
For more resettlement services information, please contact:
Azita Eshagh
Resettlement Coordinator
azitae@jfssv.org
(408) 357-7457
Immigration Law Clinic
Jewish Family Services and the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association,
Silicon Valley Chapter (AILA) offers a pro bono clinic to serve the needs of
immigrants in the South Bay.
Attorneys from the law firms of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP;
Byrd & Associates Immigration Law Firm; and Daniel Shanfield – Immigration
Defense participate in the clinic. They provide clients with valuable legal
advice and assistance relating to all areas of immigration law.
Clients who come to this country as asylees or refugees (those who fled their
home countries because of persecution) can now receive help to complete
green card and citizenship applications and fee waiver applications to ameliorate
the costs of the application fees (totaling well over a thousand dollars.)
Clinic Dates: Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:00PM on these dates:
September 10th
October 1st
November 5th
These sessions are free of charge and are held at JFS SV offices.
To schedule an appointment to meet with an attorney, please contact:
Zoya Lazer, MLS Azita Eshagh, AA
Director of Refugee and Career Service Resettlement Coordinator
zoyal@jfssv.org azitae@jfssv.org
(408) 357-7452 (408) 357-7457
Programs and Services For Refugees, Asylees and SIVs
Read Mercury News Wishbook article on refugees who start new lives in America with help from JFS SV.
JFS SV offers ESL classes Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM to assist in developing students' English skills focusing on resume development and job search.
A Client Story:
JFS resettled Iranian refugees Arash and Noreen along with their seven year old daughter. Within three months, Arash and Noreen completed JFS’ VESL classes. Our Job Developer helped Arash find a job as a dental technician; and assisted Noreen in obtaining her hairdressing license and work in a beauty salon. A JFS Case Manager helped Arash and Noreen with enrolling their daughter in first grade at a local elementary school. After three months, they were able to rent an apartment, and settle in to their new life in America.
Jewish Family Services is pleased to partner with Immanuel House in San Jose to provide transitional housing for some of our refugee clients.