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Sometimes, all it takes to bring a family hope is the simple reminder that they are not alone.
This was true for Safiullah and his wife, Suma, Afghan refugees and parents of a young infant. After resettling in Chicago in June of 2024, the family spent several months trying to adjust to the new world around them. But between the harsh Chicago winters and a lack of family and friends nearby, they felt isolated and alone.
By the end of the year, their hope was crumbling and they reached a breaking point. They knew they had to make a change. So in January 2025, they made the difficult decision to move closer to friends in Fort Worth, Texas.
From Isolation to Uncertainty to Community
Unfortunately, the family soon encountered another devastating obstacle. Just as they were on their way to Texas, the U.S. government froze federal funds for refugees. Safiullah and Suma were cut off from essential support, including refugee cash assistance. With no income and no opportunity to secure housing, they moved into a crowded apartment with friends. Confused and frustrated, they weren’t sure where to go next.
Thankfully, in the midst of this crisis, generous people just like you stood in the gap for Afghan refugees and other immigrants like Safiullah and Suma.
Soon after their arrival in Fort Worth, the couple connected with World Relief. Because our partners gave to the Stand in the Gap campaign— raising over $11 million in 11 weeks — our team at World Relief Texas was able to provide social support and employment services to Safiullah and his family, restoring stability in their lives.
We quickly connected the family with temporary rent assistance, medical insurance and SNAP benefits to help cover living and food expenses as they got their feet back under them. Within a month, they were able to move into an apartment of their own.
With an eye to the future and an eagerness to provide for his family, Safiullah also took full advantage of our job readiness program. He learned how to navigate applications, interviews and transportation barriers and immediately started applying for jobs. He is now employed and is already working towards advancing into opportunities where he can earn a higher income to meet his family’s needs.
Where Safiullah and his family once felt lost and cut-off from help, they now feel hopeful again — all because people like you said “yes” to standing in the gap.
“We are very happy with [World Relief],” Safiullah said. “Without the cooperation and help of donors and agencies like World Relief, we cannot achieve the hopes and dreams we have for the future.”
After Fleeing Their Homes, Afghan Refugees are at Risk Again
Right now, Afghan refugees and immigrant families across the U.S. are facing a devastating reality. Recent federal funding cuts and policy changes have cut thousands off from critical support and even put some at risk of deportation. Refugees like Safiullah and Suma face renewed fear and uncertainty, just when stability and safety seemed within reach.
But this is where you come in.
The Path is our answer to provide ongoing, critical support to families in need. This faithful community of monthly givers is ensuring families like Safiullah and Suma’s don’t just survive but also find true belonging. Your monthly gift ensures ongoing access to job readiness training, housing and transportation support, and care from welcoming communities rooted in hope.
Families like Safiullah and Suma’s are doing everything they can to rebuild, but they can’t do it alone.Their story isn’t finished, and neither is ours.
Will you stand in the gap today and walk with families toward a future where they can truly thrive and belong?
Samuel Heard serves as a content specialist at World Relief. His writing has appeared in a variety of outlets, including Baptist Press, Mere Orthodoxy, the Center for Faith and Culture and elsewhere. He lives in Upstate South Carolina with his wife and two children.