U.S. government program aims to mobilize 10,000 Americans to welcome refugees through private sponsorship in 2023
Washington, D.C. — Today, Home for Refugees is joining more than 200 diverse organizations in signaling their support for the Welcome Corps, a new U.S. government community service program that allows everyday Americans to privately sponsor refugees from around the world—representing the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in more than 40 years, grounded in the generosity and compassion of American communities.
Over the last year, Americans from every corner of the country have stepped up to welcome first Afghans, then Ukrainians, and then people in need of safety from our own hemisphere, including Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, and Nicaraguans. Now, with the launch of the Welcome Corps, the U.S. government is making it possible for Americans to sponsor refugees from all around the world. Many of these refugees have lived for decades in refugee camps worldwide, often unable to leave freely, earn a living, rebuild their lives—and make contributions—in the warm embrace of a new community.
Through the Welcome Corps, Americans work in groups of at least five to welcome newcomers by securing and preparing initial housing, greeting refugee newcomers at the airport, enrolling children in school, and helping adults to find employment. Most importantly, they offer a sense of welcome, belonging, and inclusion for families that have left far more than their worldly goods behind—they have left behind friends, families, and the social networks that help us thrive. These shared acts of welcome bring communities together while making it easier for newcomers to adjust to life in the United States. The program aims to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans in 2023 to welcome refugees through private sponsorship.
Leaders from across the resettlement, faith, service, and government communities are voicing their strong support for this bold new program that will dramatically expand America’s ability to welcome newcomers.
“The Welcome Corps is an opportunity for regular people in the U.S. to live out a spirit of radical generosity, hospitality, and compassion. At Home for Refugees, we believe that every community already contains all of the necessary resources to help a refugee family build a new life and a new home, and that when regular people come together to welcome refugees, we can accomplish so much more than the government alone. Welcome Corps and private sponsorship are the future of resettlement in the United States,” said Minda Schweizer, Executive Director and Founder of Home for Refugees USA.
Applications for the Welcome Corps will be accepted beginning January 19, 2023. Americans interested in learning more about sponsorship should visit WelcomeCorps.org.
The Welcome Corps was launched by the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and is being implemented by a consortium of six organizations with expertise in refugee resettlement, protection, and welcome. Led by the Community Sponsorship Hub, the consortium includes Church World Service/Refugee Welcome Collective, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Welcome.US.
“Community organizations and institutions may also apply to participate in the Welcome Corps as Private Sponsor Organizations (PSOs) to mobilize, support, and oversee private sponsors. As the Welcome Corps launches, a range of organizations are stepping forward as PSOs including Alight, Every Campus A Refuge, HIAS, Home for Refugees USA, IRIS – Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, the International Rescue Committee, Rainbow Railroad, and WelcomeNST,” said the Office of the Spokesperson at the U.S. Department of State.
As one of the first PSOs to join the Welcome Corps, Home for Refugees is committed and ready from the launch to recruit and train groups of private sponsors. Our hope is that the Welcome Corps creates a new pathway for more people in the U.S. to get involved in resettlement, and in turn, creates more opportunities for refugees to find a welcoming home here in the United States.
Refugee newcomers who arrive through the Welcome Corps will follow an established government process that includes extensive security vetting and health checks. They will have refugee status, employment authorization, access to key public benefits like health insurance, and can eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. The Welcome Corps program provides sponsor groups with access to tools and resources, including a budget template, fundraising support, an arrival checklist, and ongoing guidance throughout the initial sponsorship period.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brian Ng, Home for Refugees USA (b.ng@hfrusa.org)