Becoming a citizen of the United States of America is not the simple process that many people think it is. In fact, many of the questions that are on the citizenship tests are questions that even those that are born in this country have a hard time answering.
Here at the KoreanCenter, we understand that for elderly who have limited English proficiency, (LEP), becoming a citizen can seem like a nearly impossible task. Our Bilingual and Citizenship Education class is a private one on one session that occurs, Monday and Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Through this session, we strive to prepare limited English proficiency (LEP) elderly for the citizenship test. To make an appointment, please call 215-276-8830.
The elderly sometimes have a harder time communicating with the public service agencies such as the Social Security Administration and County Public Assistance agencies in obtaining services such as SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and Medicaid assistance. The social service program staff works closely with the public service agencies and provides translation and interpretation for the elderly so that they may obtain the necessary services.
Most of the elderly are eligible for low-income housing assistance (Section 8 ) but they are unable to apply for the service. Our social services staff provides the necessary assistance so that the elderly may obtain low-income housing assistance.
Newly-arrived immigrants and refugees experience serious problems in dealing with public and private companies as well as individuals because they do not understand the English language and legal documents in particular when they apply for immigration. The agency provides initial intake counseling and refers clients to a few community-oriented attorneys if needed so that the clients receive appropriate legal assistance. KCDSC also provides one-on-one citizenship test preparation services.
Our center has extensive experience in the production and management of low-income housing, having participated in housing development from 1986 to present day. Through our partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), we acquired, renovated, and sold. Through many of these mixed-use projects, KCDSC is proud to have invested in the Olney community by creating affordable rental housing opportunities while simultaneously expanding our operations by using the ground floor commercial space located in these properties.
In the second phase of KCDSC’s housing development work, KCDSC acquired 62 vacant homes, primarily from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, from 1996-2006. KCDSC renovated these properties and sold them to first-time homebuyers who had gone through housing counseling offered by OHCD funded housing counseling agencies. KCDSC renovated 35 of the 62 homes through the Home Rehabilitation Program (HRP) of the Redevelopment Authority during that 10 year period.
In the third phase of KCDSC’s housing development work, from 2009 to 2012, KCDSC acquired 12 single family homes and have thus far sold 6 of them to first-time homebuyers.