In the Cincinnati area there is a critical gap in access to legal services for immigrant and refugees, which has been causing instability for families in our schools and our community. Cincinnati is home to more than 25,000 refugees from countries such as Bhutan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Burma, Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq, Burundi, and Sudan. There are also large numbers of immigrants from
other countries, including more than 60,000 Hispanics. to escape horrific conditions and save their children, and they contribute positively to our society. While many organizations have been working to create a resettlement infrastructure in our community, few agencies provide affordable legal services. The Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) was created to work with the community to help fill this gap.
