What is happening with Ukrainians coming to the US?
On March 24th, the Biden Administration announced that the US would welcome 100,000 Ukrainians into the US. The Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (US State Department) is responsible for determining how many Ukrainians will be admitted via the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which is the traditional resettlement program. PRM will work with all nine of the US Voluntary Resettlement Agencies (Volags) to determine how many Ukrainians will go to each region of the country.
Ascentria works with two of the Volags – Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and Church World Service, in resettling through offices in West Springfield and Worcester, MA and in Concord, NH. As of this moment we have received no guidance as to timing, numbers or placement of Ukrainians coming to the US.
Will Ukrainians be treated in a similar manner as the Afghans who were evacuated from Kabul in August?
While we are hopeful that PRM will develop a similar program for Ukrainians as was provided for the Afghans, that determination has not yet been made. There was a small number of Ukrainian refugees who were awaiting placement in the US before the Russian invasion took place, and those people will likely be among the first arrivals.
How many Ukrainians are in the US today?
There are over 1 million people of Ukrainian descent in the US today, with the largest concentrations in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Pacific Northwest. In addition, there are over 10,000 Ukrainians in the Springfield, MA area. This is significant as many Ukrainians will likely be placed with family reunification as a goal.
Will there be many unaccompanied Ukrainian children brought to the US?
It is not anticipated that many children will be placed in the US. As of today, there are only three children under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
Will Ascentria be resettling Ukrainians?
While we have had no discussions with our Volags about numbers, timing or location, we stand ready to assist Ukrainians as we have been assisting all refugees for over 20 years.
How can I help?
There was a tremendous outpouring of community support as we resettled over 600 Afghan evacuees since last September. Many people made financial contributions and volunteered in numerous capacities. Many more formed over 50 Neighborhood Support Teams throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire that provided support for Afghan families within their communities. We are hopeful that people will respond in a similar manner to help both Ukrainians and all refugees that we will resettle.
What items can I donate?
We're currently accepting a variety of items at our
West Springfield office, such as:
- Gift cards
- Mattresses (new or good condition)
- Toiletries
- Infant formula
- Bedding supplies
- Household essentials
- Bus passes
- First aid supplies
- Tablets and/or computers
- Cell phones
Does Ascentria help other refugees?
Yes! Ascentria works with our national partners to assist refugees from countries all over the world. We help resettle refugees year-round in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.