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 just 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 an inclusive community of well-being where people thrive.
Our Impact (Fiscal Year 2023)
From the Newsroom
Three years on, the [Afghan] arrivals have slowed dramatically but they’re still trickling in. And LSSNCA said the needs are persistent, albeit different. Volunteer drivers are particularly in demand asmigrants need to be taken tojob interviewsorother important appointments. ... Also needed are tutors for kids settling into American schools, and mentors for adults trying to find their way in a new culture and a new job. Doctors, lawyers and even military-trained jet pilots in Afghanistan find themselves struggling to match their skills with jobs here.
LSSNCA joined more than 100 state, national, and local faith-based organizations to call on the
administration to urgently address backlogs in work permit processing and continue efforts to enhance,
expand, and extend access to work authorization for immigrants and asylum-seekers alike. Lastly, we asked
to codify the automatic extension for renewal applications and extend the automatic extension
period to 730 days as a means to protect the ability of individuals to work for years to come.
The ability to work is a gateway to the most essential needs we have as human beings, including food,
shelter, clothing, access to healthcare, and the ability to care for our loved ones and participate in our
communities. The call to work is widely recognized across many faith traditions.
Marjila graduated in journalism and communication from the University of Kabul. She worked as a journalist and served as a project manager for an NGO in Kabul while also establishing her own nonprofit focused on helping homeless children. On August 15, 2021, she woke up thinking she would head to the permit office to pick up the permit for her NGO and start operations. But the situation changed drastically when she learned that the Taliban had taken control of Kabul.
