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Welcoming our New Neighbors

last updated 9/12/24

Opportunities to House & Support Asylum Seeking Families in MA

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 Temporary Respite Center 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. This is an ever-evolving crisis.

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.

  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. 

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. 

  • Here are some Frequently Asked Questions to think about as you see what is possible in your congregation from BIJAN, UUMass Action, and Episcopal City Mission.
  • For UU Congregations, please contact Tali Smookler at tsmookler@uumassaction.org 
  • For Episcopal Churches, please contact Hannah Hafter at hannah@ecmteam.us
  • For Jewish Synagogues, please contact Sacha Bonder at sbodner@jcrcboston.org
  • For all others, please reach out to 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 currently 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. 

If you have questions, email hannah@ecmteam.us. 

  1. 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 a teachers assistant. More info here.
  1. 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/
  1. Advocacy
  1. Pray

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.



This list has been compiled by a handful of organizations, including the Massachusetts Council of Churches, Jewish Community Relations Council, UniteBoston, Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston/Ten Point Coalition, Capuccian Mobile Ministries, UU Mass. Action Network, Episcopal City Mission, Boston Faith & Justice Network, Worcester Area Mission Society, Circle of Hope, MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy) Coalition.