Ways to Love Recently Arrived Migrants
New York City (as a sanctuary city) has recently seen a significant influx of migrants from out of state. While buses continue to arrive at Port Authority, families are encountering challenges in finding housing, medical care, mental health services and basic need items. Even with these challenges, they have been encouraged by the support of the community in navigating these systems. To relieve some of these exhaustions, New Yorkers have been meeting them at the bus stops and welcoming them with information and emergency items. We hope to join them in welcoming the sojourner!
Join us in ushering God's shalom to recently arrived migrants in three easy ways we've shared below.
Learn About Available Resources
The above linked Resource and Referral Guide provides information on services available to recently arrived immigrants. This guide is intended for use by New York City agencies, schools, nonprofit organizations, and immigrants who may benefit from receiving information and referrals to City services and non-governmental resources that serve recently arrived immigrants.
Please feel free to share with your friends and family and invite them to join you in supporting our recently arrived immigrant neighbors.
If you are a newly arrived asylum seeker, you can get free and confidential help accessing services and resources that will help you integrate in New York City. You will need to schedule an appointment through NYC shelter staff or a community-based partner office.
At the appointment, you will have a fully confidential interview in your native language of preference with a trained case manager. The case manager will help identify your needs and connect you to the services, resources, and information you may need.
Information and service referrals include but are not limited to:
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Healthcare services and referrals
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Health insurance enrollment
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Mental health counseling
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School enrollment
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Immigration legal services
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IDNYC (Municipal Identification) enrollment
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And more
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While information and some basic services are offered at the Center, services and resources will also be provided at service providers and community-based organizations throughout the five boroughs of New York City.
Donate Goods or Financial Assistance
Queens
Brooklyn
Bronx
Loving God, you create every person in your image and unite us all in one human family. As our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, fill us with courage and compassion, that we might meet the hardships of migrants and refugees, not with silence and indifference, but with generous acts of mercy, welcoming every stranger as Christ in our midst. Amen.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” - Matthew 25:35-36
Specific points to pray for:
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Provision of housing and other necessities.
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Comprehensive city plans to care for recently arrived migrants.
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Health for families exhausted from the journey.
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Legal justice and representation.
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Families staying together and reuniting.
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Strength for community based organizations and community organizers.
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Partnership opportunities.