Bay Area Syrian Refugees Assistance

Julnar and I are current Facebook employees who - as so many other people- have been following the heartbreaking Syrian refugees crisis closely. We wanted to find a way to help, but our contrubutions always seemed too small and we felt too far away to make a difference..  Until we found out -through our friend Ghazwan Almoázen- that the crisis has made it's way to our own backyard.

Over the past few months, three Syrian refugee families were placed in the Bay Area. They came through the IRC (International Rescue Committee) and are facing multiple challenges as they set up their new lives here in the Bay Area. The IRC assisstance covered their expenses for the last few months but has now stopped and the families are left figuring things out on their own and rely heavily on donations. Sustaining jobs has been a major struggle since their English is limited and they're still getting used to everything.

We visited the families last weekend and it was very heartbreaking listening to their stories. You would think that once they leave the war zone everything will be fine, but that's only the beginning of the battle.  Although they are definitely safe here, their struggles have just begun as they learn everything from scratch. Starting a new life is never easy, so imagine if you have to do that in a place where you don't know anyone, don't speak the language, and don't understand the system.

So Julnar, Ghazwan, myself and other friends decided to start this effort to help those families. Our goal is to collect 3 months worth of rent for each family, to help them keep a roof over their heads, until we help them find better jobs and more affordable housings.

Help us make their lives a bit easier until they get on their feet. Every dollar helps and remember, no one has ever become poor by giving.

Disclaimer: we aren't working with any organizations here but rather, sending the money to the families directly to help with their rent. ============================

** More about the families**

First Family:
- Lives in a studio in San Francisco
- Rent: $1,700
- Has 3 boys: 5yrs, 1.5 yrs and 5 months
- Current job: Dad works as a Janitor and has a driver's license
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Second Family:
- Lives in a very small 1 bedroom apartment in Oakland
- Rent: $1,100
- Has 2 girls: 6yrs and 7 yrs (they go to elementary school)
- Current job: Dad works at a carwash facility and has a driver's license.
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Third Family:
- Lives in 2 bedrooms house in Oakland
- Rent: $1,800
- Apartment got robbed on 09/25. They lost laptop and the little cash they had ($1,200)
- Has 3 girls: 21yrs, 17yrs and 13yrs, and a 10 yrs boy (they all go to school)
- Current job: Dad works as a tailor in a dry cleaner.