How You Can Support Families Starting New Lives in Our Communities
The Massachusetts Interfaith New Neighbor Coalition has compiled an evolving list of actionable ways for you and your congregation to support families seeking safety and a fresh start in Massachusetts. With changing policies creating uncertainty, your help can provide stability, connection, and hope for our new neighbors.
If you need help navigating the many ways to get involved, please reach out to us! Contact Sacha Bodner, Director of Organizing and Multifaith Initiatives, at .
Any amount of time and effort you can provide makes a huge difference. Whether providing a place for a family to stay, driving a family to an appointment, helping someone fill out an application, or donating necessities, there are so many ways to contribute.
The greatest need right now is physical space. You can help provide physical space by:
- Hosting families at your congregation. Congregations can offer various spaces, such as classrooms, sanctuaries, or outdoor areas for tents, to host families overnight or during the day. Even hosting for a short duration or offering shared spaces without private rooms can make a difference. If your building lacks certain amenities (e.g., showers), partnerships with nearby facilities like YMCAs or congregant homes can help. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Opening your home. Offer a spare bedroom or basement for as long as you can. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Offering emergency support. Cover a last-minute hotel stay for immigrants in need. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Renting out your apartment. Rent an apartment or legal in-law basement and get paid through HomeBASE. Click here to learn more and get started.
You can volunteer your time by:
- Providing care. Some congregations hosting families need help checking in with families, assisting with childcare, or other supportive activities. First-time volunteers will receive a brief orientation. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Helping to fill out applications. Assist residents with Temporary Protective Status (TPS) applications by helping them with form preparation, translation support, quality control (with qualified attorneys), and other support tasks. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Delivering basic needs. Bring supplies and provide resources to non-English speaking families in the South Station, Quincy, and Allston/Brighton areas. Click here to learn more and get started, especially if you speak Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, French, or Portuguese (or are comfortable using a translation app).
- Teaching English. Volunteer to teach (or help teach) ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Connecting on advocacy. Learn how to provide immigrants with the legal tools they need to protect themselves and their rights. Click here to sign up and learn more.
- Running a collection drive. New clothes, hygiene kits and baby items are needed. Click here to learn how to volunteer or host your own donation event. (You may also drop off supplies at one of the drives listed.)
- Volunteering through partner organizations: Our partners have ample opportunities to get involved. Click here and here for more information on ways to help.
You can donate by:
- Purchasing registry items on Amazon. Multiple organizations have Amazon registries where you can virtually order needed items. Click here or here to purchase high priority items for those in need.
- Transferring hotel points or airline miles. Travel vouchers, airline credit, and hotel points can provide those forcibly displaced the means to find sanctuary. Click here to learn more and donate today.
- Donating money towards hotel costs. Congregations, organizations, and individuals can make contributions to cover the cost of hotel rooms. Click here to learn more and give today.
- Donating to partner organizations. Some of our partners are collecting funds to directly support immigrant families. Click here to donate.
There are so many more ways to get involved with organizations closest to you:
- Form a support team. You can make or join a volunteer group of 5-20 people to welcome a refugee family into their community. Click here to learn more and get started.
- Learn terminology. Click here for a comprehensive glossary of common terms used in this work.
- By Location: Organizations are actively working on this cause all over Greater Boston. Click here to find partners who might have service opportunities in your area.
- With the Commonwealth: Click here for a list of immigration resources from the state and find more volunteer opportunities here.
- Human Services: The Multi-Service Center in Cambridge provides social services for those with low-income, experiencing housing instability, or experiencing homelessness. Click here to learn more.
- Further ESL Opportunities: Check out a list of ESL programs across Boston here.
And finally, as you take action to lend a helping hand, you can also pray.
This evolving resource list comes from the Massachusetts Interfaith New Neighbors Coalition, which includes Massachusetts Council of Churches, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, UniteBoston, Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston/Ten Point Coalition, Capuchin Mobile Ministries, UU Mass. Action Network, Episcopal City Mission, Boston Faith & Justice Network, SEND Relief Boston, Worcester Area Mission Society, Circle of Hope, Jewish Family Services (JFS) MetroWest, and the MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy) Coalition.
