Access to Safety Net Programs for North Carolina’s Congolese Immigrant Families

As part of a study on North Carolina immigrant families’ access to safety net programs, we led focus groups with members of immigrant families to understand their experiences applying for and accessing programs.Over recent decades, North Carolina’s diverse immigrant population has grown, with immigrant families living in rural and urban communities across the state. This includes immigrant and refugee families from a diverse range of countries speaking many different languages. Unlike other immigrants, all refugees are eligible for federal safety net programs when they arrive in the US and receive targeted assistance from refugee resettlement providers to enroll. However, assistance may be less widely available over time as refugees navigate processes to retain or renew benefits.