Survey designed for refugees served by the International Rescue Committee's Center for Financial Opportunity in San Diego, California.

1. IRC Center for Financial Opportunity Survey
Hi! How are you doing? My name is __________ and I am here on behalf of the
International Rescue Committee. We are conducting a brief 20 minute survey of
IRC‟s clients in the community in order to find out more about their experiences
with the IRC‟s Center for Financial Opportunity. Your answers will help the IRC
to improve these services. All of the answers you provide will be completely
confidential. Please try to answer every question to ensure the most accuracy.
Are you ready to begin?
((MARK ALL ANSWERS IN THE BOXES TO THE LEFT OF THE QUESTIONS. PLEASE DO
NOT OFFER THE PARTICIPANT THE OPTION OF NON-RESPONSE, BUT FILL IN THE CODE
-97 IF THE QUESTION IS NOT APPLICABLE (N/A) TO THE RESPONDENT, -98 IF THEY ARE
UNWILLING/REFUSE TO RESPOND, AND -99 IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO RESPOND OR
DON‟T KNOW))
Great! First we would like to know some demographic information about you, for statistical purposes.
Remember, everything will be kept in strict confidence.
I. Introduction / Demographics:
1. What ethnicity are you?:
 Afghan (0)  Iraqi (4)
 Burmese (1)  Somalian (5)
 Burundian (2)  Vietnamese (6)
 DRC (Congolese) (3)  Other (7)
1a. If Other, please specify: ________________________
2. What is your sex?:
 Male (0)
 Female (1)
3. How old were you on your last birthday?:
 18 (0)
-24  45 (3)
-54
 25 (1)
-34  55 (4)
-64
 35 (2)
-44  65+ (5)
4. What is your marital status?:
 Single (0)  Separated (3)
 Married (1)  Widowed (4)
 Divorced (2)

2. 5. How many individuals are there in your household?:
 Only yourself (1)  Four (4)
 Two (2)  Five or more (
5)
 Three (3)
5a. How many of these individuals are employed?
 None (0)  Three (3)
 One (1)  Four (4)
 Two (2)  Five or more (5)
5b. How many children (under the age of 18) are there in the household?
 None (0)  Three (3)
 One (1)  Fouror more (4)
 Two (2)
6. How many years of formal education have you completed, including primary, secondary,
college and/or university, and professional or post-graduate education? ______
7. What is your household income?:
 <$15,000 (0) $35-45,000 (3)
 $15-25,000 (1)  $45-55,000 (4)
 $25-35,000 (2)  >$55,000 (5)
Excellent. Now I would like to begin with some questions more specific to the program, and to get to
know a little more about your experience with the IRC and the vairous areas the programs focus on in
general. Remember, these questions are meant to help improve the program in the future – so please do
not hesitate to answer honestly and to the best of your ability.
II. Career and Confidence Specifics:
1. First, please tell me which of IRC‟s Center for Financial Opportunity programs are you –
or have you been – involved with?
((MORE THAN ONE ANSWER PERMITTED. IF MORE THAN ONE, CODE ALL
IN BOX ON LEFT. FOR EXAMPLE: ENROLLED IN FINACIAL COUNSELING
AND MICROENTERPRISE: CODE -23))
 Early Employment Services (0)
 Career Development (1)
 Financial Counseling (2)
 Microenterprise ( 3)
2. How long have you been receiving IRC career/financial assistance?
 0 months - 4 months (0) 17 months to 20 months (4)
 5 months – 8 months (1) 21 months to 24 months (5)

3.  9 months - 1 year (2) More than 2 years (6)
 13 months - 16 months (3)
3. Remember, all answers are strictly confidential. Do you know your credit (FICO) score?
 No (0) ((IF NO, SKIP TO QUESTION 2.4))
 Yes (1)
3a. If Yes, what range is it in?
 <500 (0)  701-800 (3)
 501-600 (1)  801+ (4)
 601-700 (2)
3b. Has your credit score improved since you arrived in the U.S.?
 No (0) ((IF NO, SKIP TO QUESTION 2.4))
 Yes (1)
3bi.) If Yes, by approximately how much?
 < (0)
20 101-140 (3)
21-60 (1) 141-180 (4)
 61-100 (2) 181+ (5)
4. Great. Now I am going to ask you to judge your own sense of independence. How
confident do you feel in your ability to navigate the following procedures by yourself,
without any assistance? ((BE SURE TO READ EACH QUESTION INDIVIDUALLY –
FIRST OBTAINING THE ANSWER TO 4a. THEN MOVING TO 4b., ETC.))

4. 5. Are you employed?
 No (0) ((IF NO, SKIP TO QUESTION 2.10))
 Yes (1)
If Yes: Lets move on to some questions about your place of employment. I am going to
hand you a list of factors. I would like you to tell me how satisfied you feel about each of
these factors in a range from very dissatisfied to very satisfied. Please tell me verbally
what you feel your job offers you with regard to each of these factors. Take your time.
((PLEASE HAND CARD 1A OR 1B TO THE CLIENT (ALTERNATE BETWEEN
THEM). REMEMBER: DO NOT OFFER THE “N/A” OR “DON‟T KNOW” OPTIONS.
READ EACH FACTOR FROM THE LEFT ROW ALOUD AND INDIVIDUALLY,
ALLOWING THE RESPONDENT TO CHOOSE AN ANSWER OFF THE CARD
BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION))
Thank you. May I have the card back? ((COLLECT CARD FROM INTERVIEWEE))
6. Great. Now, who do you turn to for help when you have a question about a standard work
procedure, for example: how to fill out a time card, what is appropriate attire, etc.?
 A friend(0) A fellow employee (4)
 A family member (1) A supervisor or employer (5)
 An IRC staff member (2) Other (6)
 A community member (3)
If Other please specify: ______________________

5. 7. Do you enjoy your job?
 I like my job (0)
 I like most things about my job (1)
 I feel indifferent about my job (2)
 I somewhat dislike my job (3)
 I dislike my job (4)
8. How many hours per week do you work?
 0 (0)
-10 41-50 (4)
 11-20 (1) 51-60 (5)
 21-30 (2) 61-70 (6)
 31-40 (3) 71+ (7)
9. How long is your commute each day, round-trip?
 0 mins (0)
-30 2 – 2.5 hours (4)
 30 mins – 1 hour (1) 2.5 – 3 hours (5)
 1 – 1.5 hours (2) More than 3 hours (6)
 1.5 – 2 hours (3)
10. Were you or will you be required to obtain a license or certification for a job that you
were already licensed for or practiced in your home country?
 No (0)  Yes (1) ((IF NO, PLEASE CODE AND SKIP TO QUESTION 2.11))
10a. If yes, do you feel that when you need this certification (or if you needed another, or
needed to re-certify), that you could obtain it without IRC help?
 Yes (0)
 I could complete a lot of the process, but I would need some guidance (1)
 I could complete a little of the process, but I would need a lot of guidance (2)
 No (3)
11. Are you in the process of starting your own business, or are you currently running your
own business?
 No (0)  Yes (1) ((IF NO, PLEASE CODE AND SKIP TO QUESTION 2.12))
11a. If yes, do you feel that the establishment of this business has helped you in any of
the following? I will read you all of the options, then I would like you to answer after the
second time I say them: ((PLEASE REVIEW ALL OPTIONS, THEN START OVER
AND ASK EACH INDIVIDUALLY. TICK BOX ONLY IF RESPONDENT
ANSWERS „YES.‟ MORE THAN ONE OPTION MAY BE SELECTED))
 To feel integrated in your community (0) To become a role model (2)
 To have a network of friends & colleagues (1) None of the above (3)

6. 12. If income from formal employment is not sufficient to cover your expenses or you do not
have formal employment, in what way or ways do you support yourself ?
((RESPONDENT MAY HAVE MORE THAN ONE ANSWER, CODE ALL AT LEFT,
E.G. -345 FOR THE LAST THREE OPTIONS. DO NOT PROVIDE RESPONDENT
WITH OPTION FOR OTHER, BUT TICK THIS BOX AND FILL IN THE BLANK IF
THEY INDICATE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IS IN THE LIST OF
OPTIONS))
 Income from formal employment is sufficient (0)
 I turn to the IRC for a loan or cash assistance (1)
 I get help from my friends and neighbors (2)
 I do work “on-the-side”- i.e. informal job(s) (3)
 My spouse or family member‟s income supports us (4)
 Other (5) If Other, please specify: _____________________________
Only a few more questions to go, you‟re doing great. Now I‟m going to ask you a few things
about your personal and financial status…
III. Personal and Economic Welfare:
1. Do you feel that with the money your famly earns you will be able to cover all of your
expenses for this month including rent, food, bills, etc.?
 No (0)
 Yes (1)
2. What is your level of concern about covering the same expenses next month?
 Very Concerned (0)
 Somewhat Concerned (1)
 Not Very Concerned (2)
 Not At All Concerned (3)
3. How would you compare your family‟s current financial situation with what it was when
you arrived in the United States?
 Much better now (0)
 Somewhat better now (1)
 About the same (2)
 Somewhat worse now (3)
 Much worse now (4)
4. What do you think the financial situation of your family will be two years from now?
 Much better (0)
 Somewhat better (1)

7.  About the same (2)
 Somewhat worse (3)
 Much worse (4)
5. Which of the following do you or your family own? ((FOR EACH ITEM THE
INTERVIEWEE/FAMILY DOES NOT OWN, LEAVE BOX BLANK AND SKIP TO
SUB-QUESTION BELOW IT))
5a.  A microwave (0) ((IF BOX IS CHECKED, PROCEED TO 5b. IF IT IS
BLANK, PROCEED BELOW))
If you could afford a microwave, would you buy one?  Yes (1) No (2)
5b.  A vehicle (0) ((IF BOX IS CHECKED, PROCEED TO 5c. IF IT IS BLANK,
PROCEED BELOW))
If you could afford a vehicle, would you buy one?  Yes (1) No (2)
5c.  A cellular phone (0) ((IF BOX IS CHECKED, PROCEED TO 5d. IF IT IS
BLANK, PROCEED BELOW))
If you could afford a cell phone, would you buy one?  Yes (1) No (2)
5d.  Cable or satellite television (0) ((IF BOX IS CHECKED, PROCEED TO 5e. IF
IT IS BLANK, PROCEED BELOW))
If you could afford cable/satellite, would you pay for it?  Yes (1) No (2)
5e.  A pet (0) ((IF BOX IS CHECKED, PROCEED TO 6. IF IT IS BLANK,
PROCEED BELOW))
If you could afford a pet, would you have one?  Yes (1) No (2)
6. Good. Moving right along, Here is another card with a list of options regarding the IRC
in general.
((HAND RESPONDENT CARD 2A OR 2B, (ALTERNATE BETWEEN THEM)))
Just a reminder: the results of this survey will be completely confidential.They are going
to be combined and aggregated with many other surveys, so your anonymous response
should have no negative effect on your interactions with the IRC.
Now, please verbally tell me what the IRC has been most and least helpful with, along
that range, in your opinion.
((REMEMBER: DO NOT OFFER THE “N/A” OR “DON‟T KNOW” OPTIONS))

8. Thank you. May I please have the card back? ((COLLECT CARD FROM RESPONDENT)).
Great. Final two questions! Here we go:
7. How many picnics did you go on last month?
 0 (0)  3 (3)
 1 (1)  4+ (4)
 2 (2)
8. How many picnics would you like to go on each month?
 0 (0)  3 (3)
 1 (1)  4+ (4)
 2 (2)
Great, we have completed all of the questions. Please allow me one minute to review and ensure
that we didn‟t miss anything.
((TAKE THIS TIME TO REVIEW SURVEY, AND ASK THE RESPONDENT ANY
QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSED))
Excellent, we are all done! Thank you very much for your time, your answers to this
questionnaire will be very helpful to the IRC. We truly appreciate it. Have a nice day.
((PLEASE LEAVE AND FILL OUT THE “COMMENTS” SECTION BELOW OUTSIDE
THE RESIDENCE))

9. Interviewer comments:
Interviewer Name: _______________________________________
((PLEASE PRINT))
Interviewer Signature: _______________________________________