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
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) strongly condemns the administration’s latest attack on refugees who found safety in the United States. A memo, issued on Feb. 18, 2026, directs ICE to arrest and detain refugees who have not adjusted their immigration status to legal permanent resident (green card holder) after one year.
Anastasia’s journey from war-torn Ukraine to rebuilding her family’s life in Maryland reflects both the promise of refuge and the uncertainty many Ukrainians now face as humanitarian protections near expiration.
This story highlights LSSNCA’s long-standing collaboration with Starbucks Coffee Company and the National Refugee & Immigrant Alliance Chapter Engagement team. Through trust, shared values, volunteerism, and generosity, this partnership has helped the Resource Center provide essential items and dignified support to neighbors in need—showing how one committed advocate can inspire lasting impact across an entire community.
