Started in a 3-bedroom apartment in 1980 by Southeast Asian refugees to help fellow refugees rebuild their lives after escaping countries suffering from political and social upheaval, Lao Family Community Development now has a 45-person staff, an Oakland headquarters, and two satellite offices. Today, it aims to assist diverse refugee, immigrant, limited English, and low-income U.S. born community members in achieving long-term financial and social self-sufficiency. To do so, LFCC offers diverse programs including ESL classes, career services, financial literacy, homeownership education, foreclosure intervention, tax assistance, youth and senior programs, crime victim assistance, real estate development, and social adjustment for immigrants and refugees. Each year, LFCC’s programs work with over 15,000 people in over 25 languages.