Meet Evgeniia K., Refugee Program Housing Specialist, Minnesota Council of Churches
Providing Housing Resources for New Paths in Minnesota
Evgeniia is a Refugee Program Housing Specialist at Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC), a Bridging agency partner. Committed to advocacy and community partnerships, this multi-faceted organization in Minneapolis provides critical support to refugees as they transition to self-sufficiency.
Individuals who receive refugee status in the United States are eligible for services through the federally funded U.S. Refugee Admission Program: Reception and Placement within the scope of the U.S. Department of State. Through local resettlement agencies like MCC, clients typically receive case management services for 90 days. A matching grant program helps pay for housing 180-240 days from the date of arrival, according to Evgeniia.
“This year, we will help resettle more than 400 refugees. Individuals and families who utilize MCC’s refugee resettlement program have lived in at least a dozen countries from all over the world, and most people have been living in refugee camps for many years,” she says.
“It can be different depending on the country of origin,” she adds. “Last year, when Afghan evacuees arrived, they were temporarily housed in hotels, and 200 people were looking for housing placements. Ukrainian refugees get a visa and a sponsor in the U.S. before they arrive. They have somewhere to stay for a period of time before enrolling for services at MCC.”
Finding out about a client’s arrival about two weeks in advance, Evgeniia helps each individual or family secure safe, stable, and affordable housing.
She develops relationships with landlords, so it becomes easier to find housing options for clients who most often do not have rental history or income when they first arrive in Minnesota. She partners with clients as they negotiate leases, set up utilities, pay bills, and furnish their homes.
That’s where Bridging comes in.
Each week, Evgeniia refers three to five clients to Bridging for a full household set-up. When needed, she accompanies clients and provides translation support at Bridging appointments as clients select furniture and household goods for their homes.
“Bridging is essential for the Reception and Placement program. What I like about the service model is that clients receive a household of furniture – the full package including furniture, beds, sheets, dishes, everything. The furniture is a critical piece,” she says.
“I also really like the volunteers and staff at Bridging. They are friendly and helpful. When people come from a difficult situation and have a light-hearted experience here, it makes me hopeful for the families.”
Evgeniia works with a team of MCC case managers who work alongside refugees to support basic needs and navigate new systems. They work with clients to secure social security cards and health insurance, enroll children in schools, set up employment, find transportation, and connect with the community.
Housing is vital for individuals and families transitioning to stability, and Evgeniia finds that a home furnished through Bridging provides comfort and security that people deeply appreciate.
“My clients talk about how they are really excited about what they receive at Bridging,” she says. “If you come from a war-torn country or if you lose everything and have to start from scratch, a furnished home provides a safe place with stability, a base to start building their lives.”
In 2022, Bridging provided furniture and household goods to 150 households referred by MCC.
