The Avangrid Foundation has made a $100,000 commitment to aid in the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the communities we serve. According to the White House, more than 37,000 thousand Afghans are expected to be resettled in the United States over the next twelve months.

The Foundation will partner with Refugee Resettlement Agencies (RSAs). RSAs are organizations specially designated by the Department of State that provide for urgent needs and help stabilize arriving refugee families with the requirement of reaching self-sufficiency in 90 days. RSAs are working hard to respond to the acute needs of Afghan families arriving directly from conflict, often with no belongings, in trauma, and with under 24 hours to prepare for resettlement. Immediate needs include transportation and logistics, shelter, legal services, food, clothing and basic needs, and immediate financial assistance.

Many of these state-based organizations, alongside Community-Based Organizations, provide additional services that assist families in long-term success including language training, job placement, childcare access, education and training opportunities, food programs, and special services for women and children.

Refugee resettlement in the U.S. was severely curtained over the past four years, and organizations are working hard to ramp up or reestablish services. In addition to the large influx of families (typically six or more people), other challenges include tight housing markets and COVID-19.

“For over a century, our companies have grown alongside our communities, which are richly diverse places that reflect of the people who have come to build lives here, said Nicole Licata Grant, Avangrid Foundation Executive Director. “Afghan families are arriving in our communities under circumstances not experienced in this generation, and we want our new neighbors feel at home as soon as possible.”

The first emergency grant was awarded to Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services in New Haven, Connecticut. IRIS is coordinating the majority of emergency Afghan refugee resettlement statewide. They expect to welcome up to 700 refugees in the coming year, the majority of the 1000 to be welcomed by the State of Connecticut as a whole. More than 40 refugees have arrived as of early September. IRIS is also working to resettle refugee families displaced from countries other than Afghanistan.

“IRIS is honored to play a central role in welcoming even more Afghan families to Connecticut, in addition to the more than 500 Afghan refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders whom we’ve welcomed over the past 5 years.  These newly arriving Afghan families sought democracy in their homeland, sought to educate their daughters, just like US families, and because of those ideals were no longer safe in their own country.  They’ll be safe here; they’ll be welcomed with open arms and they will make our state stronger.” Chris George, IRIS Executive Director.

Many of the Afghan families arriving in the United States are called “SIVs” or designated “special immigrant visas” indicating that they supported or helped serve the US armed forces in Afghanistan.

“As a veteran, I understand the service and sacrifice made by our Afghan Allies over these many years,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas companies. “It is an honor to invest in Afghan families as they establish their new lives here, where for generations to come they will help us build stronger, more diverse and sustainable communities.”

You can find out more about refugee resettlement in the United States here and here.

Photos from Zeenie Malik (IRIS)