Tens of millions of people have been displaced from their homes over the past decade due to conflict and persecution. By the beginning of 2021, 82.4 million people were forcibly displaced, that’s and over one percent of the world’s population.
Refugees often arrive in a new country with very little in the way of possessions or connections. We want to be welcoming, but it can be difficult to discern what someone needs most, or how to help in a meaningful way.
Here are some suggestions for ways to help immigrants and refugees who are relocating to your community.
Offer a Place to Stay
One of the most pressing issues facing someone arriving in a new country is housing. If you have any extra room in your house, or if you have other properties that are currently unoccupied, consider offering to let refugees stay in your home. Networks like Refugees Welcome, local religious groups, and resettlement organizations can help you get started. Sharing your home is a great way to ensure that people feel welcome in your community and can be incredibly rewarding.
Volunteer Your Time and Skills
If you have a specific set of skills that you think might be useful, consider volunteering your time. Many aspects of everyday life are lost when relocating to a new country. Providing your expertise for things like teaching a new language, learning the area, organizing a community sports team, or facilitating connections between professional peers can help provide a stabilizing influence for new community members. If you’re looking for a more structured volunteer experience, most areas have programs that can help you directly work with refugees to provide needed assistance.
Provide Something to Do
If you’re a business owner or you work with a nonprofit, consider extending opportunities for refugees to work or volunteer at your company. Hiring refugees can of course provide much-needed income and stability, but the value of work goes beyond money. Having purpose and feeling useful is psychologically important for most people, so if you can provide a productive way for immigrants to use their skills it can be mutually beneficial and help build community.
Donate
Donating money is one of the most well-known ways to assist refugees, but that does not diminish its effectiveness. If you can afford to, consider donating to a charity that focuses on helping displaced people. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to donate specific items that are needed to help people along their journey or in resettlement.
Consistent Need
Estimates for future displacement, including due to climate, range from 216 million to 1.2 billion by 2050. So, it is never too late to get involved. However you choose to assist immigrants, you can be assured that your contributions are making an impact on people’s lives and are a positive contribution to your community. Social media or a simple internet search are great ways to find organizations that support displaced persons in your area.