CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Biden administration is looking to take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in search for safety. According to a State Department spokesperson, more than 700 Ukrainians have been resettled so far. The government says finding available and affordable housing is a big challenge.

What You Need To Know

  • Biden administration plans to take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian invasion

  • Affordable housing for new arrivals is a challenge for the U.S. government, according to a State Department spokesperson

  • Refugees are finding shelter thanks to a ministry that partners with Triangle churches to provide temporary housing

As the Triangle faces its own affordable housing crisis, new refugees are finding shelter thanks to Welcome House Raleigh, a ministry that partners with local churches to provide temporary housing to new arrivals.

Jennifer Jamerson is a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Her church, part of the Welcome House Network, is responding to the affordable housing crisis by renting a house the church owns to a family of 10 from Afghanistan.

Jamerson doesn’t like to show up empty-handed when she sees the family. During a recent visit, she brought ice cream for the children. The kids light up when they see her.

“Some things are just universal,” Jamerson said. “I love ice cream. They love ice cream. It’s a good connection.”

The Afghan mother of eight makes chai, or tea, for Jamerson. Jamerson reflects on how this all came to be.

“We just basically took a look at our resources. We knew there was a great need, especially with large families from Afghanistan,” Jamerson said. "A lot of them are able to find housing and apartments in Raleigh; however, if they’re larger families, then that becomes a little more difficult strictly because of regulations.”

Related

Jamerson doesn’t speak Pashto, but she’s picked up a few words, including how to say “thank you.” Otherwise they communicate with their hands and body language.

It’s not just about providing refugees with a roof over their heads. It’s about building connections. Jamerson is part of the church’s hospitality team and likes to drop by once a week, often spending hours.

“As a Christian, I think we are called to just simply love,” Jamerson said. “You know, maybe you have a parsonage and maybe that’s not being used, and maybe you could offer that up. The need is great. Just to be able to offer that parsonage just so these people can have a safe space to just land, just let them decompress and start to build again.”

Our area could soon see an influx of Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia’s war against Ukraine. Jamerson says the community is ready to welcome any newcomers.

“I think we can be prepared,” Jamerson said. “I think we definitely need to take a look at our resources and where we can best maximize those, and I think we need to start there.”

Jamerson acknowledges housing is both pricey and hard to get right now. But she hopes the Welcome House Network can continue to support people who’ve been uprooted from their home countries. The goal is to get recent refugee arrivals to pay their rent so they can build credit and eventually secure a place of their own.