Where Hope Finds a Home

Catholic Charities of Philadelphia assisted an Ecuadorian family in securing housing and legal services after they arrived in the city as asylum seekers. The family, consisting of two parents and their two young daughters, fled political and religious persecution in Ecuador and traveled for weeks toward the United States.

After crossing the Mexican border and turning themselves in to immigration authorities, the family was sent to a temporary welcome center in North Philadelphia. Leslie Diaz, a social worker for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, met with the family at the center, which provides legal consultations, interpretation services, and health screenings for migrants.

Catholic Charities and its partners helped the parents apply for work permits and begin the asylum process through legal services. The agency also located housing for the family and provided a security deposit to help them settle in the area.