Resources for Immigrants
Help Centers
Heartfelt Tidbits
info@heartfelttidbits.org (513)-394-6765
Heartfelt Tidbits provides support to refugees and recent immigrants living in Southwestern Ohio by facilitating integration and self-sufficiency through our innovative education, cultural and employment-enhancing programming. More Information >
Services
Mentoring
Connections to Resources
Financial Education
English Classes
Citizenship Classes
Job Search & Application
Educational Support for Youth
Health Advocacy
Community Garden
Art & Sewing Classes
Su Casa Hispanic Center
7162 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45237
Su Casa Hispanic Center, a program of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, is the primary provider of social, case management, family reunification, educational, and health promotion services to the Hispanic/Latino community in Greater Cincinnati. More Information >
Services
MARCC ID (to receive government services in the City of Cincinnati)
Notary services
Benefits Application Assistance
Employment Resources
Help for Victims of Domestic Violence
Christmas gifts
Educational Services
Tutoring
Vacaciones Útiles (virtual summer program for kids entering Kindergarten through 3rd grade)
Health Services
Connections to medical, dental, mental health, and vision care
Nutrition Education
Home Safety Education
Health Fairs
Fitness Classes
Housing
Heartfelt Tidbits, Transformation, Catholic Charities, and Refugee Connect
Immigrants & Refugee Law Center
Provides free legal services for low-income immigrant and refugee families. Their lawyers leverage a network of valued and trusted partner services that provides holistic support for families including clothing, housing, food, financial assistance, trauma counseling, early childhood education, English classes, and much more. More Information >
Call 513-828-0577
Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
Helps immigrants who have been victims of family violence, human trafficking or other crimes, obtain stable immigration status. More Information >
Call (513) 241-9400 or 1-800-582-2682 (toll free)
Legal Assistance
Immigrants & Refugee Law Center
Provides free legal services for low-income immigrant and refugee families. Their lawyers leverage a network of valued and trusted partner services that provides holistic support for families including clothing, housing, food, financial assistance, trauma counseling, early childhood education, English classes, and much more. More Information >
Call 513-828-0577
Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
Helps immigrants who have been victims of family violence, human trafficking or other crimes, obtain stable immigration status. More Information >
Call (513) 241-9400 or 1-800-582-2682 (toll free)
Personal Finance
Get an ITIN Number to Use in Place of a SSN
Some banks and mortgage lenders will accept an ITIN in place of an SSN when opening an account, taking out a loan, buying a home, or applying for a credit card. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number (TIN) but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a Social Security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status, because both resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code. ** The IRS does not share taxpayer information with immigration authorities, and ITINs do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting. Your spouse and dependents can also obtain an ITIN. Read More >
Banking
Why Bank Accounts Are Important
A bank account can help you to:
Establish a credit history (Any credit history you built in your native country doesn't typically follow you to the United States. Without a credit history here in the US, apartments and other services can be more expensive, require larger deposits, or make you ineligible)
Open a credit card
Buy a home
Get a business loan
Cash checks and pay bills for free
Use a debit card to access to your money in places that do not take cash payments
Open an Account at a Credit Union or Bank Without a Social Security Number
There are credit unions and banks that do not require a Social Security number to open a bank account:
Bank of America
Chase
Wells Fargo
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Self-Help Federal Credit Union
Latino Credit Union
Apply for a Credit Card
Buy a Home
Home Loan / Mortgage
Some banks and mortgage companies offer ITIN home loans to people who do not have a SSN, but do have an ITIN. The ITIN essentially takes the place of a Social Security number for undocumented immigrants in the mortgage process. Read more >
Down Payment
ITIN home loan lenders may require a higher down payment in the mortgage application process because of the borrower's risk of deportation.
Need help paying the down payment or closing costs? Consider applying for the Communities First Down Payment Assistance for Ohio program that is available to all qualifying Ohio home buyers.
Mortgage Lenders That Offer ITIN Home Loans and the Communities First Down Payment Assistance Program
New American Funding
Crosscountry Mortgage
Fairway Independent Mortgage