Beyond Refugee Resettlement: Building a Future in a New Country

When Pedro’s* daughter first climbed into the family’s first car in the United States, she thought it looked like a spaceship. 

For Pedro, the moment represented something much bigger: a shorter commute, new possibilities for work, and a growing sense that his family could build a stable life in their new country. 

“My daughter said, ‘This is a spaceship. I love it’,” he recalled. 

Pedro, his wife, and their daughter arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela in 2024. Like many refugees, they had to learn how to navigate the practical realities of building a life in a new country, from finding work and managing money to understanding unfamiliar systems and integrating into their community. 

For refugees, the initial months after arrival are focused on the essentials of resettlement. But getting settled is not the same as building a stable, independent life. That process can take years. 

That is why HIAS’ support extends beyond initial resettlement. Across the United States, HIAS and our resettlement partners provide services that help refugees and other newcomers navigate housing, employment, legal needs, mental health, social integration, and economic empowerment. Our assistance helps refugees at the moment of arrival and for many years after. 

For Pedro and another HIAS program participant, Maryam*, that longer-term support included the opportunity to save for a vehicle through HIAS’ Individual Development Account (IDA) program and to gain the knowledge and confidence to make that investment responsibly. 

More than a car

Before joining the program, Pedro had never owned a car. He had never even driven one.

In Venezuela, he says, he had never needed one. But in Philadelphia, getting to work meant walking to a bus stop, taking one bus, transferring to another, and hoping the timing worked. On a good day, the trip took about 40 to 45 minutes. In bad weather, or if he missed a connection, it could stretch to an hour and a half. Sometimes he paid $20 or $25 for a ride-share just to avoid being late and losing income. With a car, his commute became about 10 minutes.

The new family car opened other possibilities, too. In addition to his full-time job in electrical manufacturing, Pedro repairs electronics, including cell phones, laptops, TVs and sound systems, and hopes eventually to turn that skill into a business.

Through HIAS’ IDA program, Pedro participated in financial literacy and vehicle-specific training, learning how to budget, research vehicles, compare insurance quotes, avoid scams and predatory offers, and make a major purchase with confidence. He saved $6,000, which HIAS matched, giving him $12,000 toward his vehicle.

“I didn’t know anything about buying a car,” he said. “I learned not only how to buy and insure a vehicle, but how to drive in a new country. I learned everything thanks to this program.”

For Pedro’s family, HIAS’ support also included legal assistance with their green card application, helping them navigate the immigration process with clearer information and less fear.

When Pedro talks about his experience with HIAS, he says the impact far exceeded the program. “It helped me grow as a person,” he said.

Learning to navigate a new life

Maryam’s experience illustrates another dimension of what long-term support can make possible. When she first arrived in the U.S., she was living on her own for the first time and had to learn how to manage bills, transportation, appointments and daily responsibilities without the family support she had relied on before. Over time, with help from a sponsor group and case managers, she learned to navigate those systems herself. Later, she began helping other newcomers do the same, translating, helping with benefits and accompanying people to appointments.

“At first it was so hard for me to take care of everything,” she said. “But after a year, I was okay with everything because I knew what I should do.”

The IDA program became another step toward independence. Maryam saved toward her first car, with HIAS matching her savings, and participated in training that helped her understand everything from comparing insurance policies to evaluating whether a vehicle was reliable.

Before the training, she says, the process felt intimidating. Afterward, she felt prepared to make the decision herself.

“The program was so important for me and helped me a lot to navigate,” she said. “Right now, I’m okay.”

The impact extended beyond transportation. Having a car gave Maryam greater freedom to move around her community and pursue her professional goals. She is now working toward additional training in her field.

“Rebuilding a new life in this country is a long journey,” she said. “Lots of good people surrounded me.”

As a testament to how much confidence she’s gained, Maryam added, “America is the land of opportunities. If you want to do something, then just go and achieve that goal.”

Building a life and a community

For both Pedro and Maryam, the vehicle is the tangible result of the IDA program. But the deeper impact is the confidence to navigate life independently and pursue what comes next. That is central to HIAS’ broader approach to supporting refugees and other newcomers. Initial resettlement may help someone establish a foothold, but longer-term services can help people strengthen their financial security, pursue employment and education, and address legal and mental health needs.

For Pedro, becoming established also means becoming part of the community around him. When asked what it takes to build a life in a new country, he doesn’t talk about money or employment.

“First thing to do is be respectful,” he said. “We need to be a good neighbor because we live with other people.”

Pedro hopes eventually to start his own business and shared that his goals have grown as he has become more established.

“The longer you stay here, the more your goals go up,” he said.

For people rebuilding their lives after displacement, that process does not end when the initial resettlement period is over. It unfolds over years, through one new skill, one new connection, and one new milestone at a time.

*Pedro and Maryam’s names and some identifying details have been changed to protect their privacy.