Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
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help said
Dear sir/madam
I live with my two daughters (4 years old and 12 years old) and my husband.
We are refugees from Iran and have been brought to US by UN through Turkey.
We entered the US on the 15th of June 2011.
An organisation called Lutheran Services of Georgia is been responsible for us since we are in the US to help us in this new society where we don’t know the language at all but we are in the danger of becoming homeless in the next few days.
The society, language, the system and everything is all new for us. We are more then happy to work but with our poor English no one has provided us a job.
We have been doing our best to learn English in the last 4-5 month.
Where can we find organisations which can provide us some help?
Is there a chance to get some social support in other states?
Our aim is to learn English, work hard and provide our children a good education.
Thank you very much and have a wonderful day
Looking forward to hearing from you
Christopher Coen said
Are you taking ESL classes where you live? If so, how are those classes?
Zoe Ann Olson said
I had a telephone meeting with IOM Head of Office, Brian Graham. IOM is addressing all of Idaho Legal Aid’s travel loan cases directly with me. We found that the agencies were not offering refugees options such as deferrals and or write off of their travel loans and were not treating refugees the same among agencies.
IOM is creating a website with information about the travel loans and eligibility criteria for deferrals and write offs. I told him that I want standard guidance and all agencies must tell refugees the rules from the beginning before they sign a promissory note.
IOM will write off the travel loans with documentation for death, repatriation, bankruptcy, permanent disability (with a Dr’s letter saying the refugee is disabled and can’t work), minor orphans. Case-by-case for incarceration, victims of violence, domestic violence victims and documented financial hardship.
Received deferrals for temporary disabilities and documented under or unemployed.
IOM is going to correct the credit report of all of my clients that were reported to TransUnion for defaulting on their loans because the agencies did not notify them of their right to a deferral and or write off and thus should never have been reported. The issue of damaged credit is still outstanding.
I explained to them that families need to be able to make their own travel arrangements especially if it is cheaper, and translate promissory notes in other languages and the bills too.
They are going to provide better orientation on the travel loan in the refugee country and here with Title VI compliant services.
They are going to redo their computer system to better monitor travel loan collection practices.
I would like to know if anyone has successfully challenged the legality of said loan. The promissory notes are governed by DC law. To collect a debt in Idaho once in default, an entity has to show the person owes the debt and that the collector (IOM) has registered in the State of Idaho to collect a debt. Our clients’ loans have been deferred or written off. Now I am working on the deferrals—hoping to get more write offs and or reduced payments for disputed loans and or hardship. On April 19 and 20, I will provide a fair housing and travel loan clinics in Boise and Twin Falls.
Thank you,
Zoe Ann Olson
Attorney at Law
Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc.
1-(208)-345-0106, extension 1508
Facsimile 1-(208)-342-2561
310 North 5th Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
zoeannolson [at] idaholegalaid [dot] org