Page 9 - 2021 Impact Report

Afghan refugee Fatima Mirzad is
starting a new chapter of her life in
Michigan after fleeing Afghanistan with
thirteen other family members.
Samaritas refugee resettlement
1,595 services and community coalitions like

the Detroit Refugee Network are
helping the family gain independence
persons served and dignity as they work toward
stability.

Before leaving Afghanistan, three
family members were allowed to
116 persons served maintained or increased their
withdraw the equivalent of about two
total income
hundred dollars from a Kabul Bank.
65% self-sufficiency rate at 180 days for those in
Some bank accounts were seized
the program because they belonged to a woman.
As a result, the lifetime savings of the
About the Detroit Refugee Network... entire extended family disappeared
and the family of fourteen landed in
Samaritas created the Detroit Refugee Network in 2022
the United States with six hundred
as a coalition to aggregate the community resources, dollars between them.
volunteers, and programs to resettle all the refugees in
our care. Under the Network, services to quickly Fatima says, “We are beginning a new
acclimate Ukrainian, Afghan, and other refugees will be life in a free country and will work to
administered more efficiently. Samaritas and the City of one day become new citizens of the
Detroit, along with other partners, will sustain the United States.”

coalition with housing assistance and resources for New
Fatima and her parents look forward to
Americans who choose to call the city home. Visit
owning a safe home, with their own
Samaritas.org/DetroitRefugeeNetwork for details.
kitchen and garden, and university
degrees for their girls.