The Harvard community is forming a neighborhood support team (NST) to help resettle Afghan refugees arriving in Massachusetts.
Afghan refugees currently receive little federal aid, so community contributions are vital to resettling efforts. State Sen. Jamie Eldridge and state Rep. Danillo Sena released a statement on Sept. 29 encouraging housing, donations, and the formation of neighborhood support teams in support of Afghan refugees.
“[T]he Afghans arriving do not have refugee status. Rather, they are ‘Humanitarian Parolees,’ which means that they do not immediately receive federal government support. That’s why we need to fill in the gap,” Eldridge wrote.
Local efforts
Last Tuesday, Harvard resident and Holy Trinity Parish social justice committee member Terry Symula led a meeting for people interested in forming Harvard’s neighborhood support team. NSTs each consist of 20 to 30 people who help support a refugee family with housing and money.
Leaders of the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church, and the Congregational Church of Harvard were invited to the meeting, along with other community members and residents. Their efforts join those of other teams organized under WelcomeMa, a consortium of Massachusetts nonprofits committed to resettling 200 to 300 people. Currently, about 80 NSTs in Massachusetts have formed to support incoming refugees.
As the resettlement agency for the Harvard area, nonprofit organization Ascentria Care Alliance co-sponsors WelcomeMa’s efforts. But underlying its contributions are funding challenges. “The work of refugee resettlement, under the past administration, was very much dismantled,” said Aimee Mitchell, Ascentria’s chief community services officer. “So when the Afghan crisis—this humanitarian crisis—emerged, all the resettlement agencies across the country were facing years of underfunding.”
Local NSTs are thus working to raise money to help financially support Afghan families. Harvard resident Elizabeth Curry is a member of a Bolton NST and recently held a dinner event, raising over $3,000. Symula says she has “every confidence that we’d be able to raise money in Harvard” as well.
In addition to the basic necessities, NSTs are also responsible for matching the individual needs of families. “The folks aren’t here yet. And it’s always wrong to make assumptions. Every family would be different,” said Symula. “So you would meet your family at the airport, and then determine what their needs are.”
With NSTs, Afghan families receive more direct, personalized support from their community. While a refugee resettlement agency only supports a family for the first 90 days, NSTs allow refugees to rely on their community for long-term support, according to Mitchell.
How to help
Most urgently, NSTs seek housing and donations. Mitchell specifically labeled housing as “one of our biggest challenges,” so organizations are also accepting temporary or transitional housing.
In terms of clothing and furniture, Symula suggested donations to the Fresh Start Furniture Bank so that Afghan families can shop there when they arrive and select their own items, instilling a sense of choice in their lives.
“We restore dignity when we restore choice,” said Mitchell. She emphasized the importance of allowing the families to choose their community and pursue NSTs that correspond with their personal goals and dreams, establishing agency over their own lives. Mitchell hopes that the NST model will remove the “shame” often associated with being a refugee and prove to Afghans that “We value your opinion, and we want you to be who you are.”
“We’re grateful to these people for all the service they’ve given to our country,” Symula added, her voice emotional. “They’re starting all over again. And so whatever we can do to make this their home, we should do.”
Donations to “Team Harvard” are being accepted via Ascentria Care Alliance at www.ascentria.org. On the homepage click “Learn More,” then click “Donate” on the right side of the screen. Click “In Honor Of” and type in “Team Harvard.”
Rebecca Zhang is a senior at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and editor of The Spectrum, the school’s student paper.
