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Matching Grant Program The Matching Grant Program, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), provides services and support to newly arrived refugees, newly granted asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, certain Amerasians, and certified victims of trafficking to facilitate self-sufficiency within four months of the client’s date of eligibility. Twenty-one LIRS affiliates participate in the Matching Grant Program in 34 locations throughout the United States. They provide a wide range of services including intensive case management and employment services to approximately 3-4,000 clients each year. Clients also receive a cash stipend and rental support as an alternative to accessing public cash assistance. For the first 8 months of 2004, 76 percent of the clients that enrolled in Matching Grant achieved self-sufficiency within four months. Matching Grant is a unique program in which in-kind and cash donations raised by the local affiliate are matched by the government at a two-to-one ratio. Therefore every dollar donated equals three dollars to the Matching Grant Program. This match provides clients the much-needed assistance for them to become self-sufficient. Congregations and volunteers are also critical to the success of the Matching Grant program as they contribute time and goods, and help refugees successfully transition to life in the United States. In 1979 Congress initiated the Matching Grant Program to provide refugees with the services and support necessary to foster self-sufficiency. Prior to that time most resettlement services were provided by voluntary agencies and philanthropic donations. In 1984 LIRS joined the program with five affiliates participating. For more information on the Matching Grant Program, please contact us at matchinggrant@lirs.org.
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