Salaam Refugee Care

Salaam Cleveland’s refugee care initiative has multiple areas of focus all with an end goal of integrating refugee families into American society while continuing to foster a nurturing environment to sustain a connection to their cultures. Salaam Cleveland takes an approach to help individuals, families, and communities move further toward a path of sufficiency. We work in collaboration with other Northeast Ohio community service organizations including Catholic Charities, Refugee response, and the Islamic Center of Cleveland.

Back in 2003, with the influx of refugees from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Somalia, Turkey, and Iran came to the Cleveland area, Salaam Cleveland recognized the importance of having a place for their spiritual, educational, and social needs. Working with funding from the Greater Cleveland Muslim Community, Salaam Cleveland purchased a house for them at 9400 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, Ohio. This helped establish the Muhammad Rasul-Allah Islamic Society (MRI) to give them a sense of belonging to their new community.

In the last two decades, this gift has been invaluable by being a focal point for the refugees of many different ethnicities with a common religion: Islam. Not only has it been a place of worship, but also, just as importantly, a place for their education, social gathering, community center, and a welcoming station to the newly arriving refugees. It has helped to bond the refugee community with other residents.

An adjoining duplex house was purchased, and this duplex presently serves as an office and service outlet.

Salaam Cleveland focuses on the essential needs for when refugees come into the country. Volunteers assigned to a refugee family engage with the family and establish a personal connection. Other volunteers may step in to help based upon their specific area of expertise such as arranging multi-cultural social and educational events.

Salaam Cleveland has fostered meaningful relationships with different manufacturing companies and firms. This helps our refugees find jobs that match their interests and skills. These ties create a culture of giving back to the business community of Cleveland.