Refugees learn American banking and credit

One of the big stories of 2015:  the Syrian refugee crisis. The Obama administration announced earlier this fall it plans to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. Some governors asked that they not be resettled in their states, and there have been debates in Congress over the effectiveness of the screening process.

Currently, refugees must pass extensive health and security checks. And then once they arrive, they have to build lives — find jobs, rent apartments, open bank accounts.

As part of that process, they attend classes. We went to one at the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, where Cultural Orientation Coordinator Christopher Rhodes shows refugees how to establish credit, apply for public assistance and open a bank account.

Click the above audio player to hear more.