HIAS Pennsylvania — Local services in Philadelphia

Irresponsible and dishonest services! Last summer I immigrated to the USA under a SIV (special immigrant visa). Based on US government's policy for SIV, the assigned agency for my resettlement was responsible to rent and prepare a home with basic necessities before my arrival. Because they get a lot of funds from government and many other sources.

Unfortunately, HIAS did not rent or prepare any proper accommodation for me. Instead, they took me to an old church house where a group of asylees and refugees were living (it was a free building given by churches to undocumented refugees). There were no cooler or air-conditioner in my room. Also, the lock of my room was broken and I was not even able to lock my room. I had no access to internet to confirm with my family that I had savely arrived.

Finally after 10 days they rented a private house without any sort of cooler. It was as hot as hell inside the rooms. Even my case manager was telling me that it was very hot inside my house but she refused to help us solve the issue. They promised to find me and other immigrants jobs but they failed to find any job for any of us. After a couple of months of struggle and disappointment I left Philadelphia and came to Virginia where I could set up my life so quickly, got a job as cashier, bought a car and rented a beautiful and clean apartment. The majority of HIAS' clients that I knew from that time left Philadelphia because of HIAS organization.

I really feel sorry for myself that my first impression of USA was totally ruined by HIAS and its operational team. They are literally wasting millions of government's dedicated funds for immigrants.

Please! Please!! Consider HIAS Pennsylvania as your last option as it comes to receiving resettlement services. Note: I have proofs of whatever I said here, if any official agency requests...

Poor communication and lack of respect for volunteers. There are other orgs that help immigrants. If you want to make an impact, don’t waste your time jumping through hoops for nothing. I spent hours doing… applications, trainings, interviews … all for them to tell me the programs were actually “delayed” (months later) or they’ll tell you to make sure you take time off to attend trainings, but then not even communicate that the programs aren’t accepting new applicants. What a waste of time! Take your spirit for helping others to an organization that...

HIAS is an organization that provides free legal and social services to immigrants, refugees, and Asylees who can't afford to pay for the services. Everyone here is respected, and his dignity is maintained. HIAS is governed by Jewish values, but when you enter, you feel you are in your...