Asylum Seekers Resources and Self-Service Tools

Adult Education Services

Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center
(English for Speakers of Other Languages, Introduction to High School Equivalency, High School Equivalency, etc.)
163 W 125th St Fl 15
New York, NY 10027
Phone: (212) 961-3231
Website: https://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/meoc/

SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center
(Preparation Classes for GED Exam, etc.)
1666 Bathgate Ave
Bronx, NY 10457
Phone: (718) 530-7000
Website: www.bronxeoc.org

Queens Educational Opportunity Center
(English for Speakers of Other Languages, Preparation Classes for GED Exam, etc.)
In-Person Admissions Hours: Mon-Weds 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Thurs 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
15829 Archer Ave
Jamaica, NY 11433
Phone: 718) 725-3320
Website: https://queenseoc.net

Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center
(English as a Second Language, GED, etc)
111 Livingston St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 802-3300
Website: https://sunybeoc.org

Careers through Culinary Arts Program C-CAP Emma’s Torch Hot Bread Kitchen, Ltd.

English Spanish Glossary

Schooling/Courses

NorthStar Digital Literacy
NorthStar Digital Literacy defines the basic skills needed to use a computer and the internet in daily life, employment, and higher education.

Food Protection Online Course
The online course is free, but you must pay $24.60 (including fees) to take the final exam to receive your certification.

ESL Courses

We Speak NYC Classes

NYC Public Library
Offering multilingual resources, classes, workshops and programs along with free city services such as ActionNYC, Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center, and IDNYC.

Cell-Ed
Cell-Ed offers users free mobile English language and skill-building lessons that be accessed at any time and at any place. These lessons are available through dial-in, an app on a phone or webpage and even through WhatsApp. Download the Cell-Ed App or simply call +1 (866)-425-2355 from any cell phone o Enter PIN 1788

Childcare Assistance

NYC Public Schools
New York City offers free or low-cost high quality early childhood education infant and toddler programs for qualifying families with children between six weeks and three-years-old (who are not yet age-eligible for 3K). Enrollment for infant and toddler programs are year-round and eligible families can enroll at any time directly at their preferred program location. Family eligibility requirements apply to all infant and toddler programs.

Head Start and Early Head Start
Early Head Start and Head Start providers offer free learning and social/emotional development services to children ages birth to age five. Additionally, some providers offer services for pregnant parents. A child/children can enroll regardless of their immigration status.

NYC ACS
ACS offers low-income vouchers that can be used to cover the cost of childcare at a provider of the family’s choice. Vouchers may also be used to pay approved relatives, neighbors, or friends for care. **Child must have required immigration status to qualify.

Asylum Seeker Resource Directory - NYC Resource Directory 2

NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
Work recognizes that immigrant New Yorkers and their children make up a significant proportion of the City's population.

Resources for Families, Babies and Expectant Mothers

Baby & Clothing Supplies

Little Essentials
Offers at-risk families living in poverty urgently needed children’s supplies and parenting education to promote the health, well-being, and safety of their children under five years of age.

The Hope Line
Are you or a loved one facing financial and health hardships due to the lack of diapers?

Keeping infants and toddlers clean, dry, and healthy is key to building a solid foundation for all children to reach their full potential.

Housing & Clothing Assistance

Migrant Relocation Assistance Program (MRAP)
New York State, in partnership with New York City, has established the Migrant Relocation Assistance Program to help newly arrived families seeking asylum and other eligible families to relocate from the city's shelter system to permanent housing in welcoming areas of the state. The program will help pay up to one year's rent and provide services to eligible families relocating in Albany, Erie, Monroe, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.

Ruth’s Refuge
Ruth’s Refuge provides home furnishings and essentials to refugees, asylees and asylum seekers in New York City.

*Ruth’s Refuge is not able to take self-referrals. They partner with many organizations in the city, and they refer clients to us for assistance. If someone you are working with has a case manager at one of the resettlement agencies or with one of the many organizations in the city working with asylum seekers, or if they have an attorney at one of the legal services providers, their case manager, social worker, or attorney can reach out to them. They do have Spanish speaking staff to work with the client once referred to them.

Help NYC
A list of locations that offer clothing assistance.

New York Cares Coat Drive

Clothing Assistance

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) Legal Services for Immigrant New Yorkers National Immigration Legal Services Directory (IAN)

NYC Food Bank NYC Food Pantry City Harvest

Misc. Services

NYS DMV – Driver Licenses and the Green Light Law
The Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, commonly called the 'Green Light law allows all New Yorkers aged 16 and older to apply for a standard, not for federal purpose, non-commercial driver license or learner permit regardless of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States.

NYS OMH

RIF Asylum Support
RIF offers weekly group Asylum legal consultations, Asylum application classes, work permit classes, emotional support groups led by Madelyn Miller PhD, training services, education consultations and resources and an information question hour. The website is available in many different languages and French, Spanish and Russian speakers are available through the program. https://www.rifnyc.org/mental-health-services

Steps for Asylum Seekers (poster)
This poster/quick guide lays out the form’s asylum seekers should be filling out, what they may be eligible for, as well as how and when to fill them out.

Healthcare - All immigrants can get medical care in New York City, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. You can get low-cost medical care, with or without insurance, through NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H). H+H can provide emergency care, basic health care, check-ups, immunizations, and more for people of all ages. For all NYC Health + Hospitals, please call (718) 387-6407 to be directed to the center nearest to you.

Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center
The Roosevelt Hotel 45 East 45th Street (between Vanderbilt and Madison Avenues) New York, NY 10017 Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

Center for Faith & Community Partnership

The office of Faith & Community Partnership is providing clothes, toiletries, and bikes to Asylum Seekers. They can be contacted by email at [email protected] or telephone at 212-346-6335.

Make the Road NY
Organization provides many services for recent migrant arrivals – including adult literacy, other types of training, legal help, healthcare access, etc.

Fair Fares NYC
Fair Fares NYC is a city program created to help New Yorkers with low incomes manage their transportation costs

Help NYC
Get Help Today (https://www.helpnyc.org/) Asylum Seeker Resource Directory - NYC

NYC Resource Directory 4 DRAFT 11-20-2023

Resource navigator with information on community kitchens, food pantries, personal hygiene assistance (places to get free haircuts, etc.), clothing assistance, legal assistance, and more.