ICMC provides rental assistance to vulnerable Syrian Refugee and Host Community Families in Jordan 

JORDAN, 29 July 2014 (ICMC) - “Before ICMC helped us, I did not know how to pay the rent,” said Mohammad, age 33, a Syrian refugee in Irbid, Jordan.

Mohammad first heard about ICMC when he registered his family as Syrian refugees with UNHCR. After visiting the family, ICMC staff determined that the family’s situation was extremely vulnerable and thus eligible for aid. With funding support from the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM), ICMC provides both refugees – including Mohammad‘s family – and host community households with rent subsidies to cover up to four months of full rental payment.

Like many Syrian refugee families, Mohammed travelled on foot to Jordan; “We experienced the hardship and the fatigue of travel, the fear, the sound of shelling, witnessed discarded corpses on the street, and were constantly surrounded by the smell of blood.”

Mohammad and his pregnant wife walked the 4km to the Jordanian border, where they arrived at the Zaatari camp. After a month of crowded camp conditions, the family moved out of Zaatari and into Mohammad’s cousin’s home.

Yet Mohammed wished to find his own space, “During my search, it was difficult to find affordable rent in good condition.” Mohammad heard about ICMC when he registered his family as Syrian refugees with UNHCR. After visiting the family, ICMC staff and volunteers – some of whom are refugees themselves – determined that Mohammad’s family was eligible for assistance.

Upon receiving aid Mohammad gained hope for the future, “Of course I am very sad to leave my home in Syria, but I feel safe in Jordan and now we are waiting for our new baby to come into the world.”

ICMC Staff and volunteers conduct regular visits to the beneficiary’s households to verify that families are living in a safe environment. After the rental assistance period ends, ICMC maintains contact with the families to ensure they are doing well. ICMC also supports vulnerable Jordanian families to maintain stable relationships between the two communities and reduce tension caused by scarce resources.

Families are selected based on initial recommendations by outreach volunteers, along with secondary visits and verifications by caseworkers. ICMC develops a close relationship with vulnerable households through consistent visits, and determines what refugees need most – whether rent, supplies for the winter, baby hygiene supplies, or in some cases, social support in ICMC’s Protection Centre for women and children.

To read other stories of ICMC programmes in Jordan click here<.

Photo Credit: ICMC Caseworker speaks with Syrian Refugee, 2013