Migration & Refugee Services

About Us

Cleveland Catholic Charities, Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) is one of approximately 100 affiliates of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, which has a cooperative agreement with the United States to resettle refugees who have been legally admitted through the federal Refugee Admissions Program. These individuals have fled their home countries in fear of persecution because of their ethnicity, nationality, social group, religious affiliation, or political beliefs.

MRS serves individuals from countries including, but not limited to:

• Afghanistan
• Bhutan
• Burma
• Burundi
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• Guatemala
• Iraq
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Ukraine

We respect the dignity of each person and provide a supportive environment where each individual and culture is celebrated. Building upon the courage and strength of these newcomers, we seek to empower them to achieve self-sufficiency and independence.

In addition to initial resettlement services, MRS provides long-term programming that helps refugees better integrate into the community; these services include English Language Classes, Vocational Training, Mentoring, access to the Ohio Center for Survivors of Torture, Single Mothers supportive programming, and Immigration Legal Services. MRS also has a history of successfully resettling cases with complex medical and mental health needs due to a strong relationship with local hospitals such as Cleveland Clinic, Neighborhood Family Practice, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals.

MRS operates with approximately 35 staff members and robust support from volunteers, AmeriCorps members, Jesuit, Franciscan, and Catholic volunteers, student interns and more.