Refugee resource Welcome.US CEO and sponsor speak to FOX23

American families are opening their homes to Ukrainian refugees as the war in Ukraine continues. The nonprofit, Welcome.US, created a program matching Ukrainians in need with Americans who can help provide shelter. FOX23′s Michelle Linn spoke with one of those American sponsors, Elizabeth Langland, and the CEO of Welcome.US, Anya McMurray, on Wednesday morning. The sponsor told Michelle, when the war began, she felt the call to help.

Michelle Linn (ML) - “Anya, tell us about Welcome Connect and how it works.”

Anya McMurray (AM) - “Thank you so much for having us here. Welcome Connect is an online tool that we built to make it easier for Americans to learn about how to sponsor a family, how to sponsor a Ukrainian family in need, and then get connected to them. And that’s so important because, after the Russians invaded Ukraine, the U.S. government created a new program, which allows Ukrainians to seek refuge here in the U.S., but they have to have the support of an American sponsor. And so this platform, Welcome Connect, allows Americans who are interested in being that lifeline to learn more about how to do it, sign up, and then talk to Ukrainians who are looking for an American sponsor.”

ML - “What types of things do you need, like extra space in your home, or how much of a financial commitment is it?”

AM - “So as a sponsor, you’re really the first step on a pathway to safety for Ukrainians. And that can include a variety of different things. You’re helping them get settled into the community, which which may involve helping them find housing. If you have an extra room in your house, it could mean that, but it doesn’t need to certainly, helping them find a job, getting connected with schools for their children, learning a bus route, it’s just the basics.”

ML - “Elizabeth, what made you decide to do this?”

Elizabeth Langland (EL) - “I had become acquainted with a student who was a refugee from Afghanistan as early as 2017. And I was very much impressed by the pain she was experiencing and distance from her homeland and her family. When this program opened up, offering us an opportunity to help refugees now from Ukraine, I was eager to get involved and to make a contribution.”

ML - “So, what is it exactly that you are doing now?”

EL - “Well, as a sponsor, we have indeed identified housing for the refugees. Two sisters, each of whom has one child, we identified housing, we helped them sign up for their benefits, we enroll the children in school, we help the sisters sign up for their employment authorization. And in fact, now both are employed. Amazingly, within fewer than three months of being in the United States.”

ML - “It’s gotta be incredibly rewarding.”

EL - “It is so incredibly rewarding, I can hardly say. There is work involved. But what struck us and what has surprised us is that, every time we reached out, we found people who wanted to join us, to help to contribute in some way, however small or large, and it’s made a huge difference. It’s really enlarged our sense of possibility and a capacity of humanity among people.’

ML - “That’s really uplifting and and good to hear that story. Where can people go for more information?”

AM - “So, if you just go to Welcome.US, we have a lot of information available to get you started on your journey. And like I said, you can sign up to learn more. It doesn’t commit you to doing anything, but we have videos that will help walk you through the process and lots of really good, clear answers to many of the questions that you’ll have. We also have a call center that will help you fill out the forms and get you on your way.”

For more information, visit the Welcome Connect website.