How to help fleeing Afghan allies who are headed to Houston

undreds of Afghans are slated to arrive in Houston in the coming weeks. Fleeing families will be welcomed by five local refugee agencies and nonprofit groups. These organizations are bracing for busy weeks ahead as they’ll be finding homes in Houston for these Afghans, who are mostly Special Immigrant Visa holders — interpreters and others who worked with the U.S. military and have gone through a rigorous visa application process and their family members. The influx of families en route to the region has heightened the need for volunteers and donations for refugee organizations, according to Hannah Quillin, executive director of the Christian nonprofit Houston Welcomes Refugees. “We are in desperate need of volunteers and the starting essentials,” said Quillin. The nonprofit is setting up apartments for arriving Afghan families with kitchen supplies, towels and bedding. Through their partnership with refugee agency YMCA International Services in Houston, Quillin said the group plans to aid about 300 Afghans by the end of September. The organization also coordinates small groups of volunteers to work with incoming families during their first six months in Houston. Volunteers build friendships with incoming families, said Quillin. We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. “Showing them how to register for school, taking them to the zoo, showing them what makes Houston so great.” Houston refugee resettlement agency The Alliance is also bracing for a large increase in Afghan arrivals. “We already have schedules set up for 70 people to be coming in in August,” said Dan Stoecker, CEO of refugee agency The Alliance, which has resettled about 45 Afghans so far since January 2021. Stoecker is asking for donations of funds or furniture to accommodate the influx of people and set up their apartments in a timely manner. He said The Alliance, which receives government funds to resettle folks, is also asking for volunteers to help his staff. “We don’t want people to have to wait, so we need volunteers to help set up apartments,” said Stoecker. He also encouraged potential employers, looking to staff up, to reach out if they would like to hire some of the arriving Afghans, many of whom have previously worked in some capacity with the U.S. military and speak English. Houston-based refugee agencies YMCA International Services Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston The Alliance Refugee Services of Texas (Houston) Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston Other support groups International Refugee Assistance Project Combined Arms Culture of Health, Advancing Together (CHAT) Houston Welcomes Refugees Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service No One Left Behind Local veterans group Combined Arms is also welcoming incoming Afghan allies in Houston. They’re accepting donations that will be used for airport welcome gifts, halal food vouchers, computers and social events. To provide legal support for Afghan families, many who are still in Afghanistan, donations to the International Refugee Assistance Project go towards helping eligible Afghan families secure Special Immigrant Visas and get out of the country. Some of their clients have already resettled in Houston, with more on the way. The group is also asking elected officials to evacuate Afghans on the ground. Around 18 percent of Special Immigrant Visa holders, who are from Afghanistan and Iraq, are resettled in Texas, according to South Texas Office for Refugees executive director Kimberly Haynes. In a written statement, she said that Houston agencies have already started to resettle 100 Afghans who were first evacuated to Fort Lee, Virginia and that another 100 are on their way this week. “Houston stands ready and willing to receive more and welcome them into our Greater Houston communities,” Haynes said.

How to help fleeing Afghan allies who are headed to Houston

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