UniteBoston

Nurturing Relational Connections Across Boston's Christian Community

Migrant Care

URGENT OPPORTUNITIES

A “Menu of Options” Compiled by the Massachusetts Interfaith New Neighbor Coalition

Background: 

In early August, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Healey’s office made changes to the Commonwealth’s 40-year-old Right to Shelter policy for families, in response to an influx of migrant families coming to the state. Homeless immigrant families that previously had slept at Logan Airport lost access to that indoor public space, leaving some to sleep on the streets. Now, some asylum-seeking families with young children are forced to choose between accepting a 5-business day stay at an “overflow shelter” or signing up for the waitlist for a longer-term shelter. A waitlist that currently has about 750 families on it and is estimated to be a wait of 6-7 months. Any families accepting the 5-night stay would be barred for 6 months from even getting on the waiting list. Consequently, some families receiving daytime support at the Quincy Welcome Center have resorted to sleeping at the nearby MBTA station when it closes each night.

While we urge the state to restore the right to shelter law for families with children, we also believe this is an incredible opportunity for faith communities to love and serve our new neighbors by providing tangible assistance such as shelter, food, legal support, and advocacy for fair policies, as well as fostering deeper relationships with these new neighbors. While we prepared this list with faith-based congregations in mind, we anticipate that it will be helpful for any person of good will wanting to make a difference to serve and support arriving families.

The list is organized from greatest level of commitment to least, as we are convinced that everyone has the ability to do something.

Congregations can be such incredible places of resource, hope, and strength in times of crisis. Friends, let’s take courage and step up with God’s love, support and care at this pivotal time.

(Note, this information has been taken from a shared document on the most urgent opportunities here)

1. Physical Space for Shelter

Physical space is the most urgent need. With babies and small children now sleeping outdoors with their parents, we need YOU to consider if your community can host new neighbors. Overnight space is needed particularly in locations that have access to public transit. 

Host in your Building: Congregations may choose to host 1-2 families or offer a larger shelter space. This is helpful whether it is for days, weeks, or months. Here is an FAQ for Congregations exploring hosting families.

Host in your Home: There is also a need for host homes, which can be coordinated through the Brazilian Workers Center – sign up at this link. Anyone with a spare bedroom can work with us to house a family temporarily. 

Rent to Families through Homebase: Additionally, there is a big need for landlords who are willing to rent to migrant families, with the rent paid through the Homebase program while they get on their feet. If you own property and have vacant units, please consider renting to one of these families. Many already have jobs and income, but not the kind of resources needed to move into a home. 

BWC Host Family Frequently Asked Questions – Google Docs

Churches who have been taking the lead in opening their doors include Hartford St. Presbyterian Church in Natick (Rev. Katie Cole), Bethel AME in Jamaica Plain (Pastors Ray and Gloria White-Hammond), Our Savior Lutheran Church in East Boston (Pastor Don Nanstad), Church of the Holy Spirit Mattapan (Rev. Zenetta Armstrong). We hope their experiences encourage you to join in opening your doors, too. 

  • For more information, please contact Hannah Hafter at hannah@ecmteam.us or Rev. Laura Everett at laura@masscouncilofchurches.org 
  • For the Boston area: If you can host 1-2 families (between 1-6 people) sign up here with the Brazilian Workers Center and utilize their FAQ (email contact in the FAQ). 
  • For the Worcester area: please use this link to be added to a Call list coordinated by Jilllian Phillips, Director of the Office of New Americans (Friendly House).  If you have questions about the list, you can reach Jillian at jphillips@friendlyhousema.org.  

Cover Emergency Hotel Rooms: There is no longer any organization able to pay for hotel rooms. Volunteers continue to greet unhoused families daily and try to make them as comfortable and safe as possible when sleeping outdoors. We are looking for individuals who are willing to receive a last-minute call/text, and then pay for a hotel room for 1-2 nights (2 is better since one is a very fast turn-around). Hotels tend to be in the $150-$220 range per night. You would receive the request and then book the hotel room online or by phone if you are able. The specific hotel or geographic area for a hotel will be provided by the volunteer who is accompanying the specific family. There is a short list of hotels that have been cooperative and are familiar with this process, and the families will be accompanied by a volunteer for check-in. 

You can sign up to pay for a hotel room when it’s needed here. 

2. Volunteer Opportunities

  • Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI) in Mattapan is coordinating volunteers to work with recently arrived Haitian families. Register for volunteer opportunities here.
  • Volunteers are needed to accompany families who are unhoused, bring basic supplies, and help them know they are not alone. Volunteers are needed in the Quincy and Allston/Brighton areas, at 4/5pm (weekdays) and 3/4pm (weekends); and who can speak Haitian Kreyol, French, Spanish, or Portuguese (or are comfortable using a translation app). Please fill out this form if you are interested. 
  • Conversational English and citizenship classes starting on Tuesday October 8 at Immigrant Connection at Awaken City Church. Classes cost $10 with scholarships available. Volunteers are needed to practice English in conversation groups and serve as teachers assistants. More info here.

3. Donations & Supply Drive Opportunities

  • Circle of Hope is supporting new family shelters of immigrants and refugees, especially expecting moms and their families, to preserve and enhance overall health and personal dignity. They are looking for Welcome Baby Bags – new diaper backpacks with new baby items only, and Emergency Response Bags with gender neutral new clothing for an adult in one size (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL). The items can be donated directly to the Circle of Hope receiving center at 1329 Highland Ave in Needham. Message Ari at ari@circleofhopeonline.org to arrange a drop-off time. More info here. 
  • The Brazilian Worker Center has an Amazon Registry where you can see the items that are needed and shop wherever you’d like.
  • United Way is supporting a variety of shelter sites for our new neighbors. They have created an Amazon Registry where you can see and purchase the items that are needed. They can be dropped off at the location in South Boston.
  • If you have hotel points or airline miles, you can donate them to be used for overnight stays or travel via: https://miles4migrants.org/

4. Advocacy

5. Long-Term Opportunities

Welcome NST is coordinating Neighborhood Support Teams, which come alongside refugee families to support them with the resettlement process, such as finding housing, employment, registering for school, navigating transportation and more. Any group of 4 to 7 people can become a support team, and church congregations and communities are optimal as they are already set up with the relational capital and community connections to come alongside families who are navigating life in America for the first time.

There is even an opportunity for grant funding of $1,455 per refugee welcomed to offset the cost of housing, transportation, and supplies for these new families. 

Click below to see what a difference this can make:

If your church would like to learn more about being a neighborhood support team, click above to watch an info session we hosted recently with local pastors, or email Kasey Dillon, director of outreach at Welcome NST, to set up a call together!

City and faith leaders have been developing a resource map to discover what services and resources are currently available to support our new neighbors. If you are the leader of a Boston church or faith-based nonprofit that is interested in helping with the migrant care crisis, please fill out this survey so we can add you to the resource map!

Opportunities to support IFSI: 

  • Volunteer Interest Form (google.com)
  • Volunteer for basic English conversations – no ESOL certification required
  • Weekend space for intensive English conversations – 4-6 hours, with volunteers – we are looking to provide English conversation for intensive job seekers.
  • Temporary overflow site to accompany families who are sleeping at the airport
  • Childcare space for children
  • Housing in general – room, space at churches, if you know landlords.
  • We are also in need of legal assistance.  Most of the people who are here with us now will need legal representation.  Any immigration lawyer who wants to take one or a few cases, will be greatly appreciated.  Catholic Charities has been sending them back to us
  • Welcoming packages with towels, toothbrush, soap, toiletries , etc..
  • Financial Contributions: make a donation on our website: www.ifsi-usa.org
CONTACT IFSI

In March 2024, UniteBoston launched a campaign that culminated in Migrant Sunday on March 24. The campaign, titled “A Sanctuary for Strangers,” was a response to the urgent call from both the mayor and governor for churches to address the increasing number of migrants in Boston, a sanctuary city. As Christians, we recognized the migrant crisis as a pressing local issue that demanded our compassionate response.

The campaign title, “A Sanctuary for Strangers,” reflected the need for a safe and welcoming space for those who are displaced or seeking refuge. Scripture guides us to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us (Romans 15:7) and to love the ‘stranger’ among us as ourselves, for we were once strangers (Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:19). This call to hospitality echoed the teachings of Jesus, who urged us to care for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40).

The campaign included featured articles focusing on the themes of “understand,” “believe,” and “act.” Additionally, the UniteBoston website offered resources for deeper learning and action, which could be tailored to meet the evolving needs of the migrant crisis.

The campaign continues, providing more opportunities for churches to host Migrant Sunday. The next opportunity is on Sunday, September 29, 2024, in honor of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. To support churches in their response, a comprehensive preaching package is now available in English, Spanish, Portugese, and Haitian Creole complete with designs, multimedia content, sermon examples, and more.

Migrant Sunday | September 29, 2024

Here are some national commemorations around refugees and immigrants that you can come alongside as you recognize Migrant Sunday with your congregation to extend our hands in welcome and support of our new neighbors. We’re calling on churches in Boston to join us for Refugee Sunday on the following Sundays:

  • June 20 – World Refugee Day; with Sunday June 23, 2024 as Migrant Sunday
  • September 29 – World Day of Migrants & Refugees
  • December 18 – International Migrant Day 

NOW AVAILABLE: PREACHING PACKAGE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES!

We want to help every church, big and small, to feel equipped to address the migrant crisis and mobilize their church to ACT. We have put together a full preaching package complete with designs, multimedia content, sermon examples, and more, to help churches recognize Migrant Sunday across Boston effectively.

Service Elements and SERMON RESOURCES

IN ENGLISH
EN ENSPAÑOL
EM PORTUGUÊS
AN KREYÒL
MIGRANT SUNDAY – SERMON RESOURCES

TAKE ACTION!

1. Forward this information to your pastor, encouraging them to join into the collective Migrant Sunday effort.

2. Share any articles, resources, or graphics on your social media channels from this page to broaden the movement of awareness, compassionate hearts, and action-taking to care for our new neighbors.

3. Email us. We’d be happy to hop on a coaching call to come alongside as you discern how to bring Migrant Sunday to your community. We’d also love to hear about any action steps you took and how it went!

4. Pray – Pray that the body of Christ would rise up in this pivotal moment to show self-giving love, care, and hospitality for our new neighbors. Pray for the coordination of various groups so that practical needs can be met, and our new neighbors will have what they need (including food, clothing, housing, and jobs) to thrive in our city. Pray that all people would be drawn closer to Jesus as we embody Christ’s call to care for “the least of these” (Mt. 25:40) during this Lenten season.

Join us in praying “for the Courage to Do Justice.” We offer up this prayer from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Other immigrant-focused prayers are listed here and here.
O God, open our eyes that we might see the needs of refugees;
Open our ears that we may hear people’s cries for justice;
Open our hearts that we may assist sojourners near and far.
Show us where love, hope, and faith are needed.
Use us as ministers of your healing.
Let us not be afraid to protect the weak because of the anger of the strong, or to defend the poor because of the power of the rich.
Sustain us so that in these coming days we may be able to do some work of peace for you. Amen.

5. Celebrate – Join with us in celebrating these ways that local churches and organizations have participated in Migrant Sunday this year.

  • Incorporating Migrant Sunday with their Church: Pastor Melinda Priest from Awaken City Church, Pastor Devlin Scott from New City Church, Pastor Kat Hampson from Riverwalk Church, Anchor Bay Church in Beverly, Daniel Montanez from Mygration Christian Conference
  • Prayer for Migrant Sunday at their Church: M.D. Smith from Eagle Heights Cathedral – Revere, Pastor Valerie Copeland from Neighborhood Church of Dorchester
  • Raising Funds to Support New Neighbors: Pastor Dave Friedrich from the Church of the Cross
  • Launched a New Neighborhood Support Team: Rev. Kelly Fassett from Neighborhood Church of Dorchester, Benjamin Pierce from Cru Boston Metro

UNITEBOSTON’S FEATURED SERIES

UNDERSTAND

Amidst a backdrop of rising family homelessness in Massachusetts, the journey of John, a Haitian immigrant fleeing violence, encapsulates the harsh realities faced by many newcomers seeking shelter and opportunity. Arriving with his wife and daughter, John’s hope for a fresh start quickly dissolves as they find themselves stranded at Logan Airport, relegated to sleeping on the floor and enduring cramped conditions while waiting for shelter. Their ordeal underscores the strain on Massachusetts’ safety net, with overflow sites struggling to meet the needs of a burgeoning homeless population. As advocates decry the situation and state officials scramble for solutions, John’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges confronting families without housing in the state, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support and resources.

P.S. “They are assets, they are not liabilities:” Check out this great article from the Boston Globe this week highlighting Pastor Keke and how he is supporting newly arrived Haitian families by coordinating donations, recruiting translators, and connecting individuals with services such as jobs and English classes. Way to go, Pastor Keke – Thank you for your leadership!

READ OUR FEATURE HERE
BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE

BELIEVE

In an age of global migration and mass displacement, what is the responsibility of the Church to respond to the needs and realities of migrant and displaced communities? All too often, the narrative surrounding immigration is depicted within mainstream media as highly political and divisive. In evangelical and charismatic circles, many Christians are more likely to be influenced by what the media says about immigration than the Bible.

For our week on “Believe,” we are sharing piece entitled, “The Church: A Place of Belonging” which is a chapter from local author Daniel Montanez’ book entitled, “The Church and Migration: A Theological Vision for the People of God.” The book seeks to transform the narrative of immigration by approaching it from the larger lens of human migration. By exploring the theme of human migration throughout the grand narrative of Scripture, this resource sets forth a theological vision for understanding migration from a Biblical-theological perspective. This article highlights practical ways in which the Church can get involved in serving migrant and displaced communities.

READ OUR FEATURE HERE

P.S. Daniel’s book serves as an accessible and educational guide for pastors, church leaders, and parishioners to better understand what the Bible says about God’s heart towards people on the move and how these truths can be applied in our modern world. It is available for purchase in English and Spanish. 

ACT

We will equip participants with practical action steps they can take to play a role in welcoming, caring, and supporting migrants in their communities. Here is a story of faith leaders as they call for donations as migrant families continue to flood emergency shelters. The Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex in Roxbury is already close to its 400-person limit, and Boston’s faith leaders are looking for help getting those families what they need.

You can volunteer your time and skills with IFSI to serve newly arrived Haitian families! Tutor, help teach ESL Classes, help fill out applications, donate clothing and supplies, and more. Learn More.

There is also work happening to develop a rapid response team – If you are a leader of a congregation or non-profit, please fill out this survey to understand what groups are already doing and what gaps, needs and opportunities exist.

READ OUR FEATURE HERE
HOW TO HELP MIGRANT FAMILIES

GO DEEPER:

If you want to watch one video on Immigration from a Christian perspective, this is it.
“America’s immigration policy has made the country a lot less white and Christian than it used to be. Is this diversity something to celebrate, or something to fear, resist, and, if possible, reverse? Skye Jethani talks about immigration policy, how it’s changed in the last century, how those policies have changed America, what role racism has played, and how Christians should think about immigration today.”
“Imagine this scene: Two young parents grab their toddler and whatever they can carry on their backs and flee the country. There was no safety for them in their homeland, so the only option was to seek foreign soil. This was the reality for Mary, Joseph, and a very young Jesus. When King Herod ordered all the male children 2 years old or younger to be killed, Mary and Joseph had no other option. They fled to Egypt. Jesus was a refugee.”
  • GBH News Story “The number of families in the emergency shelter system who entered as migrants is 3,623, as of Thursday. That’s about 48% of families in the system — the rest are unhoused residents.”
  • You can volunteer your time and skills with IFSI to serve newly arrived Haitian families! Tutor, help teach ESL Classes, help fill out applications, donate clothing and supplies, and more. Learn More.
  • Donations for families being sheltered at the Melnea A. Cass Recreation Complex in Roxbury are diapers and wipes (sizes 2-5 and pull-ups), menstrual pads, toothpaste & brushes, bath soap, shampoo & conditioner, body lotion, Vaseline or Aquaphor gel, and underwear & socks for men, women, and children. These items can be dropped off at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 155 Humboldt Ave, Dorchester. Mon-Fri, 2-5pm, and Sat. 12-4pm. Clothing donations (new or gently used)
  • The city is seeking to develop a rapid response team – Faith leaders can fill out this survey to understand what groups are already doing and what gaps, needs and opportunities exist.
  • Support and Accompany Our New Neighbors by Volunteering at Melnea Cass. This could include: reading books to children, playing games, or just sitting and listening (Coordinated by the Massachusetts Council of Churches).
  • Cash donations are the most flexible and allow financial resources to go where they are most needed. We recommend donations be made to the Immigrant Family Services Institute. Direct link to donate here.

*Special thanks to friends and partners who have contributed to this page, including Daniel Montanez, founder of the Mygration Christian Conference, Sarah Blumenshine, Director of Intercultural Ministries at the Emmanuel Gospel Center, Pastor Melinda Priest who is pastoring Awaken City Church and also organizes Conversational English and Citizenship Classes with her Immigrant Connection Site. The Massachusetts Council of Churches has also put together a list of how Christians can come alongside these new neighbors.


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