‘We have a duty toward our brothers and sisters who, for various reasons,
have been forced to leave their homeland: a duty of justice, of civility and of solidarity.’  Pope Francis 2/2017

Catholic Charities is a subcontracted agency to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Migrant and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) that offers welcome, placement and resettlement services for newly arriving refugees to this country.  Even before arrival we prepare for their reception by identifying possible living arrangements, basic supplies, and a circle of volunteers to assist in the resettling process.

Upon arrival case workers:

• Welcome them at the airport.
• Arrange for temporary and ultimately permanent housing.
• Supply rental assistance for one year.
• Supply basic clothing, personal items, and household goods.
• Assist with documentation, social services and benefits enrollments.
• Provide for interpretation.
• Arrange for required arrival medical examinations.
• Arrange for English language classes and employment.

Together with volunteers from the resettlement communities we:

• Provide daily assistance and companions through Circles of
• Acquaint the new comers to their new home and environment.
• Provide cultural orientation.
• Help them access resources within their new community.
• Provide case management, counseling, and assistance to meet emergent needs.

Our commitment is to provide financial, material and case management to the newly arrived refugees during their first year of resettlement.  It is also our mission to continue to monitor and accompany them over the next 5 years in their journey toward greater self-sufficiency.

How you can help newly arriving refugees:

The needs are great and there are many ways that you can assist.

• Material goods such as tables, chairs, sets of dishes, pots and pans, flatware, bed linens, blankets, lamps, televisions, Other items always in demand are laundry detergent, soap, toiletries, toilet paper, cans of coffee, flour, sugar, and cooking oil.

• Donations for new mattresses: Catholic Charities has an account at Yankee Mattress in Northampton to accept monetary donations.

• Volunteer ESOL tutoring.

• Volunteer Translation/Interpretation: Arabic, Swahili, Nepalese, Somali

• Monetary donations, particularly for the first year of rental assistance and resettlement needs. Make a donation to the Welcoming Refugees Resettlement Project

• Identifying safe, affordable apartments within the Northampton community.