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 2025 (FY25), LSSNCA served nearly 5,500 individuals from over 20 countries living across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
From the Newsroom
For families facing sudden and complex legal challenges, access to skilled representation can be life-changing. LSSNCA’s attorneys provide immigration legal assistance and support to families during moments of crisis.
LSSNCA met with Omaid Sharifi to learn more about his personal journey from Kabul to Northern Virginia and how ArtLords brings healing through art as a way to connect with and support refugees in the Capital Area.
This article features an interview with LSSNCA CEO Kristyn Peck and LSSNCA program participant Sayed Sadat.
Tens of thousands of Afghans are stuck in legal limbo as the Trump administration makes it more difficult for them to arrive in the United States and resettle.
