Somerville Group On A Mission To Re-Settle Ukrainian Refugee Family

SOMERVILLE, MA – A new local group is providing a way for residents to make a tangible impact on the war in Ukraine.

The Refugee Community Alliance: Ukrainian Support Project is a Massachusetts-based group affiliated with the Reading POWIR (People Organized to Welcome Immigrants and Refugees) group on a mission to resettle a Ukrainian refugee family in the greater Boston area this year.

The group is supported by Catholic Charities, Reading POWIR, and the Old South United Methodist Church.

Hilary Kopp, the founder of the group, said the group’s goal is to take action and do something proactive in response to the war.

“You hear the horror stories coming out of Ukraine about how the war is impacting everyday life and how dangerous it is. You want to help, but it’s hard to know where to start” she said. “The Ukrainian Support Project is an opportunity to help a real family, right here in the Boston area. You will know who you are helping, and whatever you choose to donate will make a profound difference in their lives.”

The Reading POWIR group has successfully resettled Ethiopian and Afghan refugee families since the organization was founded five years ago, and Kopp decided to create the Ukrainian group as an offshoot specifically focused on Ukrainian refugees.

“It takes a village to help a refugee family”

The group is structured as a community group model with members from several different towns including Somerville, Reading, Stoneham, Melrose, Andover, Middleton and more.

Members meet virtually to make the necessary arrangements for resettlement – and when it comes to the refugee resettlement process, there are lots of moving parts.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child,” Kopp said. “Well, it really takes a village to help a refugee family because there's a lot of things that have to happen.”

The first step is securing housing and funding, even before the family is identified.

Luckily, under the United States government program, Uniting for Ukraine, the group has more flexibility in the types of housing options available for Ukrainian refugees given how dire the situation is.

Ukrainian refugees coming into the United States can live in an in-law apartment, finished basement, or finished rooms in a host’s home if they have kitchen access, Kopp said, unlike other refugees which were required to have a separate apartment and entrance.

“Because of the war, the effort really is to try to get people out as fast as possible,” Kopp said.

But the search for housing has not been easy, especially given Massachusetts' high housing costs.

“Prices have gone up a lot even since the last refugee family [was resettled]. We're hoping to find someone who has extra space or has an in-law kind of situation to help the family get here,” Kopp said.

As far as the location of the housing for the refugee family, Kopp said areas like Somerville, which offer more housing options, access to public transportation, and a diverse community are ideal.

“The more suburban you get, the harder it is to have a family that has no car and doesn't know the language or anything,” Kopp said.

Once housing and funding are secured, then the group can begin doing outreach for everyday items like pots, pans, clothing, shoes, and all other necessities.

How to help

The group is holding a fundraiser on June 30 at the Mandarin Reading Restaurant located at 296 Salem St. in Reading to raise funds to help support the family during their first months in the U.S.

Throughout the day, 20 percent of what customers spend on lunch or dinner will go toward the group if they tell a waiter that they are a part of the group or are there for the fundraiser.

Community members can also donate to the group's GoFundMe to support the family in the greater Boston area for at least one year.

"One hundred percent of funds raised will go to support the resettlement of the family, as the project is staffed completely by volunteers," members wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Kopp said the benefits of doing fundraisers and community outreach goes beyond helping the refugee family, and extends to building community and making friends.

“It's a positive experience all the way around,” she said.

Community members who know of opportunities for reduced or rent-free housing are asked to contact the group at [email protected].

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