Who We Are
Since 1917, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), a human services and immigration relief and refugee welcome agency, has accompanied those in need throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to foster resiliency, self-sufficiency, and access to opportunities. We provide services that last beyond the initial arrival for families, youth, children, and individuals rebuilding their lives in the D.C. metro area.
Motivated daily by our belief in the inherent dignity of all, LSSNCA’s innovative participant-informed programs serve refugees, forced migrants, immigrants, children and youth, and underserved communities by filling in the gaps. Piloting initiatives like the area’s first camp for kids impacted by the HIV/AIDS crisis, originating local pro se asylum workshops for Afghan Allies, launching a Resource Center to serve as a community hub for all recently arrived program participants, and offering myriad trauma-informed mental health support services, LSSNCA strives to create thriving communities.
In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), LSSNCA served over 4,300 individuals from over 48 countries living across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
From the Newsroom
LSSNCA condemns the administration’s historic low refugee cap for fiscal year 2026 and harmful policies toward unaccompanied children. Learn how you can take action.
LSSNCA is alarmed by reports of plans to pressure unaccompanied children to “voluntarily” return to countries from which they escaped violence, exploitation, and persecution in exchange for $2,500.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is deeply alarmed by reports that the administration has signed a presidential determination setting refugee admissions at 7,500 individuals for the fiscal year without Congressional consultation. Equally troubling are reports that the administration plans to continue prioritizing white South Africans over families, children, and individuals already vetted and approved for resettlement in the United States.
