As part of our mission to build a coalition that prioritizes housing advocacy across the state, NCHC works to build relationships with advocates across a variety of sectors. This month, we are highlighting the work of FaithAction International.
For over 25 years, FaithAction InternationaL (FAI) has been a vital resource and safe space for immigrants and refugees across Guilford County and the Triad Region. The staff and board have dedicated themselves to providing compassionate and empathetic support to the local newcomer community, and much of the staff is made up of first and second generation immigrants. FaithAction does not promote any particular faith tradition, but rather the shared values of many faiths and moral traditions.
The mission of FAI is to serve and advocate alongside thousands of newcomers each year, while educating and connecting diverse communities across lines of culture and faith. They achieve their mission through various programs, such as:
Immigrant Assistance Center
Through their Immigrant Assistance Center, FAI serves and advocates for over 3,000 new immigrants and refugees and their families from over 60 diverse nations each year. One-on-one assistance includes (but is not limited to):
- Basic needs (food, diapers, healthcare, and housing issues)
- Providing safe space and accompaniment for domestic/sexual violence survivors
- Educational opportunities and job readiness assistance
- Emergency assistance to families facing detention and deportation
FAI also offers low-cost immigration legal services through their Immigrant Assistance Director and US Department of Justice Accredited Representative Jose Munoz Bernal. Jose primarily works on DACA renewal cases and family-based visa cases.
Faith Action ID Program and Network
Over the past 8 years, FAI and the FaithAction ID Network partners have provided over 30,000 ID cards to individuals who may not currently have access to government issued forms of ID.This includes new immigrants and refugees, unhoused and elderly individuals, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The ID provides card holders with a verifiable form of identification that can be used as a tool by law enforcement, health centers, schools, nonprofits, and businesses.
The FaithAction ID Network is a collection of nonprofit organizations, faith communities, and community groups in numerous cities across the nation that have been trained to utilize the same FaithAction ID drive and dialogue model. Currently, partners operate in North and South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, and Oregon.
Stranger to Neighbor Programs
The Stranger to Neighbor Congregations Initiative builds transformational relationships between theologically and culturally diverse faith communities through four steps: education, exchange, faith in action, and telling the story. Dozens of diverse congregations partner together across North Carolina and the US, providing training, consultation, and seed grants to faith communities interested in taking the stranger-to-neighbor journey.
Education
FaithAction provides over 75 “Stranger to Neighbor” trainings and presentations each year to schools, social service and health agencies, faith communities, city departments, nonprofits, and businesses. These interactive, multi-media trainings focus on four primary themes, including: Immigration 101, Turning Strangers into Neighbors, Taking Action Together and Telling the Story.
NCHC & FaithAction International
We are honored and excited to explore partnership opportunities with FAI and the communities they serve – particularly in the areas of resource sharing, advocacy support, and collaborative coalition building.
If you are interested in learning more about Faith Action International, visit faithaction.org. If you’re interested in getting involved with FAI or the FaithAction ID Network, contact the FaithAction team at info@faithaction.org.
If you are interested in becoming a Coalition partner or engaging more with us, contact our Director of Strategic Partnerships at aspinner@nchousing.org.
