The mission of CRS is to promote the wellness, self-sufficiency, and successful community integration of resettled refugees and their families.
Center For Refugee Services
Announcements
Effective January 1, 2024, CRS moved its office to 8600 Wurzbach, Suite 802 San Antonio, TX 78240.
We are still in the heart of the Refugee Community, just across the street from our old facility. However, our space has practically doubled, allowing us to serve more clients individually as well as provide more ESL classes to accommodate our ever-growing client pool.
Greater, but necessary, space comes at a cost. CRS will need more community support than ever to pay for increased rent and utilities for our new office. Can you help by donating to support our work in the community?
What Does the Center for Refugees Do?
The Center for Refugee Services (CRS) assists thousands of clients every year. They are legally resettled refugees who have come from more than 20 countries torn by violence, war and human rights abuses to make their home in San Antonio.
Since fall 2021, CRS has registered more than 6,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban. Since the Center for Refugee Services received its 501 ( c ) 3 status in 2010, we have assisted more than 18,000 individuals who have resettled in San Antonio as permanent residents.
These legally resettled refugees work, pay taxes and contribute to the vitality of San Antonio. Their children attend school and will become our future doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. After five years of, most apply for US citizenship.
CRS is the only independent nonprofit agency that works exclusively to promote the successful community integration of legally resettled refugees here in San Antonio.
Can you help by donating to support our work in the community?
What We Provide
Our Services
Our center helps legally resettled refugees to acclimate to their new lives by providing language classes, job placement assistance, and cultural orientation programs.
Education
We offer multiple levels of ESL classes, ranging from classes for the pre-literate to intermediate English speakers. We also offer some women-only classes. CRS has also distributed more than 200 scholarships for higher education since 2011.
Health & Wellness
We help clients with health insurance enrollment, SNAP, medical appointments and referrals, emergency food, pregnancy and baby assistance, and related wellness support.
Employment
As legal refugees , our clients are legally authorized to work. We help them create resumes, find jobs, apply online and make job referrals.
Classes
We offer multiple levels of ESL classes, from pre-literate to intermediate, including some women-only classes.
Community Support
During the year we have events to collect and distribute items to help improve our clients’ lives.
Located in the heart of the refugee community:
The Center for Refugee Services is in the same neighborhood as eight apartment complexes where refugees usually settle upon arrival. Many clients can walk to our office from their homes.
Several of our staff and volunteers are refugees or former refugees. Our team can assist clients in Pashto, Dari, Urdu and Spanish.
REFUGEES RESETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE DIVERSITY AND ENRICHMENT OF OUR COUNTRY.
Guidestar Gold Status – Grants
We would like to thank the following organizations for their generous grants:
The Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation
2024-2025 Grant
Lifshutz Foundation
2024 Grant
Najim Charitable Foundation
2025 Grant
Richard D. Huff Foundation
2025 Grant
San Antonio Junior Forum
2025 Grant
St. Luke's Lutheran Health Ministries
2023-2025 Grant
Southwest Community Foundation
2025 Grant
Starbucks Foundation
$3000 Grant
Our Support
Our Partners
Thanks to all of the below partners for supporting us through the years. If you would like to be one of our partners, contact us.
Why is the Center for Refugee Services Important?
The legally resettled refugees we assist have fled their home countries due to conflict or persecution and have undergone a rigorous vetting process before being granted legal resettlement in the United States.
Over the years, the countries of origin of our clients have shifted in response to global crises.
We collaborate with community members and organizations to ensure that these refugees are welcomed and integrated into the fabric of our society. It is not an easy task, but we remain committed to helping them rebuild their lives and create new beginnings in their adopted home.
Countries of Origin Include:
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Eritrea
- Sudan
- Iraq
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- Central African Republic
- Burma
- Syria
Clients Helped
Per Week
Center
Visits Per Year
Diaper Packs Given
To Families Per Month
