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
Brittany Livingston, LSSNCA’s director, foster care services D.C. shares her journey and insights into working with unaccompanied refugee children, highlighting the impact of our work - work you recently supported through our 50 for 50 campaign where we raised nearly $40,000, including a matching grant from our board of directors.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is honored to announce several key updates to its Board of Directors, including the appointment of Larry Bartlett, who directed the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for the U.S. Department of State for more than 15 years, and the appointment of Marie Martinez Israelite to Board Chair.
LSSNCA applauds the Biden administration's announcement yesterday that the U.S. refugee admissions ceiling will remain at 125,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2025. This announcement follows the achievement of 100,000 refugee admissions in FY24, signaling that the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has been successful in rebuilding following the decimation of the program during the Trump administration. LSSNCA has been on the front lines of this effort, offering safety and a warm welcome to 1,808 refugee families seeking a fresh start in the D.C. metro area during Fiscal Year 2024.
