First things first:
You belong here.

Welcome to Refugee Support Services

 

Passionately building Charlotte’s
community since 2006.

Refugee Support Services is a 501(c)(3) organization leveraging the power of community to help refugees, asylees, and other displaced people make themselves at home in the Charlotte area. But that’s just the beginning.

Get to know RSS

How RSS champions post-resettlement.

A lot can change in a day. Everything can change in a year. This is a glimpse into the journey to RSS through the eyes of a refugee.

asha

Name: Asha
Home country: Syria
Resettlement destination: Charlotte, NC

Monday

Asha wakes up in a refugee camp in Somalia, where she’s been for eight years. Asha finally receives word that she‘s headed to the United States for resettlement.

Tuesday

Asha packs all of her belongings, says goodbye to her friends, and heads to the airport. She then boards a plane for the first time in her life. Wheels up. A resettlement agency working with national groups coordinated Asha's flight into the USA and will assist her with a 90 day apartment. But after that she'll be on her own... ...and that's where RSS comes in.

Wednesday

After a long cross-continental journey, Asha arrives in Charlotte. She’s excited, anxious, and nervous all at the same time—as any human would be. With a limited understanding of English and only rudimentary knowledge of American culture, Asha makes contact with RSS.

1 week later

RSS staff and volunteers welcome Asha with open arms. They learn her story, show her around, and introduce her to friends and other refugees. She gets connected with other Syrians in the neighborhood and learns about the diverse and supportive resources in Charlotte. Thanks to their hospitality, Asha’s first impression of Charlotte is a positive one.

1 month later

With the help of new friends, Asha lives in a cozy apartment close to the grocery store and her favorite park. She’s two weeks into a new job with health insurance. And this weekend, she’s heading to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway with a local hiking group.

1 year year

Asha is comfortable, happy, healthy, and totally settled into her Charlotte life with a job she loves and friends who care about her. She volunteers at RSS on the weekends to help pay the mission forward. She hasn’t missed a Knit Together Group in 6 months.

How RSS champions post-resettlement.

A lot can change in a day. Everything can change in a year. This is a glimpse into the journey to RSS through the eyes of a refugee.

Name: Asha
Home country: Syria
Resettlement destination: Charlotte, NC

Monday

Asha wakes up in a refugee camp in Somalia, where she’s been for eight years. Asha finally receives word that she‘s headed to the United States for resettlement.

Tuesday

Asha packs all of her belongings, says goodbye to her friends, and heads to the airport. She then boards a plane for the first time in her life. Wheels up. A resettlement agency working with national groups coordinated Asha's flight into the USA and will assist her with a 90 day apartment. But after that she'll be on her own... ...and that's where RSS comes in.

Wednesday

After a long cross-continental journey, Asha arrives in Charlotte. She’s excited, anxious, and nervous all at the same time—as any human would be. With a limited understanding of English and only rudimentary knowledge of American culture, Asha makes contact with RSS.

1 week later

RSS staff and volunteers welcome Asha with open arms. They learn her story, show her around, and introduce her to friends and other refugees. She gets connected with other Syrians in the neighborhood and learns about the diverse and supportive resources in Charlotte. Thanks to their hospitality, Asha’s first impression of Charlotte is a positive one.

1 month later

With the help of new friends, Asha lives in a cozy apartment close to the grocery store and her favorite park. She’s two weeks into a new job with health insurance. And this weekend, she’s heading to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway with a local hiking group.

1 year year

Asha is comfortable, happy, healthy, and totally settled into her Charlotte life with a job she loves and friends who care about her. She volunteers at RSS on the weekends to help pay the mission forward. She hasn’t missed a Knit Together Group in 6 months.

1,282

Active Program Participants in 2023

6,402

Volunteer hours completed in 2023

231

Active volunteers in 2023

98+

Community partnerships

There’s a lot going on at RSS!

And we’d love to have you join us.
View Calendar
Did you know?

North Carolina has been in the Top 10 resettlement states in the U.S for the last few years.

North Carolina has been in the Top 10 resettlement states in the U.S for the last few years.

Each year in October, the U.S. president sets the annual ceiling for welcoming people to the U.S. with refugee status.

In addition to refugees, the U.S. also supports asylees, special immigrant visa holders, humanitarian parolees, and certain unaccompanied minors under the federal refugee resettlement program.

Insta Highlights

Follow along @welcome.to.rss for all things RSS and @ktgrss to see the latest from our popular Knit Together Group!

arrive.

New to RSS?

Welcome! We hope to meet you in the very near future. In the meantime, we’ve made it easy to learn about:

Get to know RSS
connect.

Join the
community

RSS is an organization with so many opportunities to learn, connect, and give back through programs, including:

  • Community Navigation Programs
  • Food & Community Info Programs
  • Mentor Programs
  • and more!
Get acquainted
belong.

Make yourself
at home

Charlotte is a welcoming metropolis that’s attracting people from all over the world. Whether you've been here for minutes or years, here are some connection points to help you navigate the city!

Find support