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Wilson/Fish Alternative Project Overview


WFAP provides a range of refugee services through a public/private partnership between the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, other State agencies, and a network of Community Based Organizations located throughout the state. 

Within the broader and long-term refugee resettlement mission of acclimation and integration into American society, the goals of the WFAP are:

  • to assist clients to become employed as early as possible after enrollment in Refugee Employment Services
  • to provide employed clients with post-placement support services that facilitate the achievement of financial stability (300% of Federal Poverty Level - FPL) and ultimately durable self-sufficiency (450% of FPL)

Services and benefits are provided up to 60 months after the date of entry, or until clients achieve 450% of the FPL (whichever is reached first) and includes: 

  • Refugee Cash Assistance
  • Refugee Health Assessment
  • Early Employment Retention- Bonus
  • Client Transportation Reimbursement
  • Emergency In-Kind Assistance
  • Refugee Case Management
  • Refugee Employment Services (pre and post employment job services, English language training including pre-literacy, vocational skills training, and recertification/certification training)
  • Post Resettlement Community Services 

Eligible clients include: 

  • refugees
  • asylees (additional info available and could be linked, see page 9)
  • certain Amerasians
  • certified victims of trafficking
  • Cuban/Haitian entrants

For definitions of terms used by the Office for Refugees and Immigrants, please view the Glossary.


This information is provided by the Office for Refugees and Immigrants.