The Refugee Act of 1980 created the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP). It provides for the effective resettlement of people who have had to leave their homeland and are unable to return because of a well-founded fear of persecution. People are determined eligible for admission as a refugee by an officer of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The goal of resettlement is to provide a safe haven to assist them to achieve economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

The United States Department of State contracts with several national Voluntary Resettlement Agencies (VOLAGs) to provide reception and placement services to refugees coming to the United States. The state in which a refugee is resettled is usually determined by where relatives or friends are living, but those without relatives in the United States may be sent anywhere. Local affiliates of the VOLAGs provide services during the 1st 90 days after arrival, either directly or through volunteers such as local relatives or church organizations. They may also provide cash or in-kind assistance to meet the food, clothing, and shelter needs of refugees for the 1st 30 days after arrival. Though VOLAGs or local volunteers may sometimes be referred to as sponsors, refugees do not have sponsors who have a financial responsibility to support them.

Some VOLAGs may also offer a Matching Grant program for a limited number of refugees. The program's goal is to help refugees attain self-sufficiency within 4 months after arrival, without access to public cash assistance. VOLAGs will supply cash maintenance and employment services. Participants may be eligible for non-cash programs, such as SNAP or Health Care.

RRP also provides grants to states through the DHS Office of Refugee Resettlement. Reimbursement is received for the cash (RCA), health care (RMA), and administrative costs for refugees who are ineligible for MFIP or MA. Assistance units with minor children are NOT eligible for RCA, only single adults or childless couples may be eligible. See 0030.03 (Refugee Cash Assistance). Also see the Insurance Affordability Programs/Health Care Manuals for information on Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA). There are also grants to provide refugee specific social services, primarily employment services.