Community guides / Community Resources
New Immigrant Guide: Finding East African Resources Across the US
Published 2025-02-28 · Updated 2026-08-31 · 12 min read · National
Just arrived in America? This guide helps you find East African community resources, resettlement agencies, housing, healthcare, and social services to get settled.
Moving to a new country is one of the biggest challenges a person can face. But the East African diaspora community in America has built incredible support networks.
First Steps After Arrival
Contact a Resettlement Agency: International Institute of Minnesota, Refugee Services of Texas, African Community Center (DC/Virginia), World Relief.
Apply for Benefits: SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and Refugee Cash Assistance depending on status.
Get Your Social Security Number: Visit SSA with immigration documents. Essential for employment, banking, benefits, and driving.
Housing Resources
- Local housing authorities for Section 8 vouchers
- Local mosques often have housing boards and referral lists
- East African community Facebook groups for room listings
Healthcare
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) — sliding-scale fees
- CHIP — Children's Health Insurance for kids under 19
- Many cities have East African medical clinics with Somali/Amharic/Oromo-speaking providers
Employment
- HIRED (Minneapolis) — Workforce development for immigrants
- Ethiopian Community Development Council (Arlington, VA)
- Ask at local East African restaurants, grocery stores, and markets — they often hire community members
Find Your Community
Use Shaafi Directory to find community organizations, mosques, and businesses near you — the fastest way to connect with your community in a new city.
Sources and further reading
- USAGov — government benefits
- USCIS — settle in the United States
- Shaafi Directory — current local listings
Next step
Start with the official benefits and settlement resources, then find a nearby community organization.