HIAS INC

HIAS implements a range of strategic housing programs to expand access to housing opportunities. 1. The HIAS Housing Guarantee Fund (HGF) provides financial backstopping for refugees’ first leases in the U.S., the HGF reduces risk to housing providers and increases housing access, affordability, and stability for recently arrived refugees. 2. Revolving Security Deposit Fund enables HIAS to pay the high security deposits which are often required for refugees due to their lack of rental and credit history. 3. Housing Access and Stability Fund helps partners cover emergency rental assistance for clients who would otherwise face eviction.

HIAS Economic Advancement Fund, Inc (EAF), is an emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and wholly owned subsidiary of HIAS, Inc. EAF provides refugees and other forcibly displaced entrepreneurs with access to financial products and services that promote economic opportunity and financial well-being. EAF partners with affiliate sites in twelve metro areas to support business development and expansion, helping refugees increase their income, improve their credit, and advance toward their goals. EAF uses a hub-and-spoke model to deliver financial products and services, serving as the centralized lending hub while our affiliate partners serve as business training and technical assistance providers in the communities served

HIAS’ Financial Well-being programs focus on providing the knowledge and skills necessary for refugees to integrate into their communities. The basis of HIAS’ programs is Financial Literacy which provides multi-modal learning opportunities to create a critical baseline of financial knowledge that introduces basic financial topics of Earning, Spending, Borrowing, and Saving/Protecting. These modules teach budgeting, cash management, the importance of savings, and building strong credit profiles. By connecting participants with a Financial Coach, they learn how to increase or maintain their credit scores, create and achieve long-term goals of buying a home or vehicle, and handle everyday financial tasks with confidence.

HIAS implements several programs to help refugees obtain the skills, confidence, and credentialing needed to advance their careers. With an emphasis on vocational English, digital literacy, and soft skills training for the U.S. marketplace as the foundational building blocks, along with job-specific training, HIAS’ comprehensive approach aims to address barriers unique to refugees that stunt career mobility and skilled employment. HIAS aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to navigate an increasingly digital economy and ever-changing workforce.