BUFFALO, N.Y. — The current global situations in both Afghanistan and Haiti have prompted leaders in Western New York to prepare for an increase in the number of refugees heading to Buffalo.

What You Need To Know

  • Journey's End is expecting increase in refugees
  • Refugees are expected from Afghanistan and Haiti
  • People wanting to help can volunteer or send grocery gift cards
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Kathy Spillman does community outreach with Journey's End, a group in Buffalo that welcomes refugees and resettles them into the community.

"Unfortunately, we are living in an age where the global refugee crisis is at an all-time high," said Spillman.

The group has seen an uptick in the number of Afghan families heading to Buffalo and expects that number to climb in the weeks to come.

Spillman says while Haitians do not qualify for refugee status as defined by the United Nations, they do have temporary protected status she hopes the Biden administration will continue to allow.

"They're coming here extremely traumatized, to say the least,” said Spillman. “We want to give them a soft landing. A warm Buffalo welcome in the city of good neighbors. And to give them a leg up. And to become independent and self-sufficient as soon as possible.”

To do that, Journey's End provides special immigrant visas for Afghan people who have worked for the U.S. mission.

It also provides a number of other services to all immigrants, including Haitians.

"Our English language classes,” said Spillman. “Take advantage of our employment services.”

During a stop in Tonawanda Monday, Senator Chuck Schumer says he's in contact with the White House to help get Americans and others out of Afghanistan safely.

He says globally, there are loads of immigrants at our borders, including Haitians. 

"And we need to stick by the law,” he said. “Allow people in who meet the law, don't allow people in who don't. But we're short of those places to house these people humanely while their applications are being considered.”

Spillman says their legal team is working with local immigrants who have family members back home looking to get to Buffalo.

She says community members can help by volunteering when families get here with things like home tutoring, or providing resources to put food on the table.

"They spend less of the little money that they're able to bring with them, we can help leverage that with grocery gift cards and make sure they're able to purchase culturally appropriate food," said Spillman.

Those wanting to help can get in touch with the group to see what the greatest needs are.