Hello Neighbor is proud to announce its partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) in launching a transformative new pilot program, the Coalition of Welcoming. This initiative unites 10 grassroots nonprofit organizations from across the country to welcome and resettle refugees in their local communities for the first time, marking a milestone in refugee resettlement efforts.

The Coalition of Welcoming brings together organizations that are part of the Hello Neighbor Network, providing them with essential training and peer support. These organizations will resettle refugees through IRC’s innovative Remote Placement Resettlement Model. This initiative is the first step in empowering local, grassroots organizations to take on refugee resettlement without the need to formally apply as resettlement agencies.

By the end of September 2024, these organizations collectively welcomed 110 refugees, creating new opportunities for community integration and mutual support. The organizations that participated in this pilot include:

• Center for Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA) – Astoria, NY
• Estrella del Paso – El Paso, TX
• The Greater Gainesville International Center – Gainesville, FL
• Hands on Global – Helena, MT
• HOLA Lakeway – Morristown, TN
• Karen Society of Nebraska – Omaha, NE
• Mozaic – Sterling, VA
• Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center – Concord, CA
• Regional Center for Border Health – Somerton, AZ
• Valley Neighbors – Kalispell, MT

"This partnership marks a pivotal moment in refugee resettlement, empowering grassroots organizations to welcome new arrivals in their communities for the first time. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive network of support for refugees across the nation," - Sloane Davidson, Founder & CEO of Hello Neighbor

“The International Rescue Committee is excited to partner with Hello Neighbor on a pilot program expanding refugee resettlement to ten sites across the country. New resettlement services will not only aid refugees to rebuild their lives here in America but also enrich local communities through refugees’ economic and cultural contributions. We’re proud to work with Hello Neighbor on this endeavor.” - Una Bilic, Deputy Director for New Resettlement Pathways

“As the United States continues to strengthen and expand our refugee resettlement program, we welcome this innovative partnership that taps into the local knowledge, capacity, and willingness of grassroots non-profit organizations across the United States to help refugees arrive and settle into their new homes and communities.  Such partnerships are critical to broadening and enriching our resettlement landscape to involve a wider range of community actors,” PRM’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Sarah Cross

This pilot directly supports the Biden Administration’s goal of resettling 125,000 refugees by the end of fiscal year 2024, providing a model that can be scaled for future efforts.

For those interested in exploring partnership opportunities with the Hello Neighbor Network, please reach out to Sloane Davidson, Founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor at sloane@helloneighbor.io.