Jubilee’s hospitality program began in 1980 with the hosting of Cuban, Laotian, and Cambodian refugees. Since then, we have welcomed people of many different religions, cultures, and languages from around the world. We see our hospitality work as an opportunity to receive a gift: over the years, the immigrant families that stay with us have enriched and strengthened our community through their friendship and through powerful testimonies of courage, compassion, and faith.

Most of the families that come to Jubilee are refugees or asylum seekers, and some are victims of human trafficking or other crimes. All have left their homes amidst some experience of persecution or violence. At Jubilee, these families find a safe place for recovery and healing as well as the opportunity to study English and connect with social services, legal resources, and medical care. We partner in this work with agencies, shelters, and church congregations who refer families to us or who provide continued support to people after they leave Jubilee. In our hospitality program we have housing for five families, who typically stay for periods ranging from two to twelve months.

At Jubilee we provide approximately 15 hours each week of English instruction in small classes or one-on-one tutoring. Children may attend English and academic classes at our Jubilee School or else attend the local public schools, depending on their particular needs. Some of the families that we host are in the process of seeking legal immigration status in the United States, and we work to connect these families with the strongest legal options available to them. We also work to connect people with appropriate counseling and medical services while they are here.

In a community like Jubilee, hospitality and service naturally flow in more than one direction. As refugees are welcomed at Jubilee, the long-term members of the community are frequently welcomed into the homes of these refugee families. The families living with us also find ways to contribute their skills, expertise, and experience to our community life. These reciprocal connections help us to build relationships that are grounded in a sense of each person’s dignity and agency.