Hearts & Homes for Refugees

In response to a global refugee crisis, and, in America’s long and honorable humanitarian tradition, Hearts and Homes for Refugees mobilized a nonprofit, grassroots, volunteer-driven organization, created to resettle newly arriving refugees in and around Westchester County. Hearts and Homes believes that building communities of volunteers and partnerships is the most effective and impactful way to resettle, assist and advocate for refugees.

Our 2016 vision of Westchester County where nearly one million residents could create welcoming communities for dislocated and desperate refugees, has become a reality. We empower our new neighbors with key life skills and needs such as housing and furnishings, language, driving, employment, education, and counseling assistance. The population we help includes traditional refugees, Special Immigration Visa holders (our allies from Afghanistan and Iraq), those seeking and granted asylum, and survivors of human trafficking.

In 2020, Hearts and Homes assisted 800 refugees from 25 countries to rebuild their new lives and weather a pandemic with $70,000 in emergency support, financial, food, and rent assistance. Volunteers donated more than 5,600 hours of time valued at $164,000.  Our volunteers’ outreach and cultivation resulted in $74,000 in essential supplies donated and distributed to over 500 individuals.

Hearts and Homes leads a dynamic network of more than 40 aligned groups in Westchester, and is a founding member of part a national network of 24 sister agencies. Our organization is lean but has the potential and ability to build community efforts that provide refugees with the support that enhances their short and long term outcomes as aspiring Americans. We depend on the contributions of time and resources from like-minded volunteers and partners who believe everyone deserves a safe home and a hopeful future.