In 2021, Welcome.US was founded with one hypothesis: by mobilizing the private and civic sectors and empowering Americans to help resettle newcomers, we would find the national capacity—and the commitment—to welcome more people in need of refuge in ways that ensure they and their new communities would thrive together.
Our hypothesis has proven true faster than we ever imagined. In just over two years, the United States has moved from a government system that welcomed just 11,400 refugees through the formal refugee resettlement system to an expansive public-private partnership that has welcomed nearly 500,000 refugee newcomers in safe, orderly ways in 11,000 zip codes across all 50 states.
Welcome.US partners include Lions Clubs International and leaders like Mahesh Chitnis, Rotary International and leaders like Joyce Graff, over 240 veteran and faith groups, community, refugee and diaspora-led organizations. Private and civic sector partners have innovated on employment, housing, flights, and matching grants for sponsors—and those sponsors have contributed an estimated $7 billion of their own time and money to support newcomers arriving in the United States. In story after story, we hear how this act of welcome transforms both the lives of newcomers, and the lives of those who welcomed them. Read more about our impact this year. And join us:
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Admirable! Your programs are making a real difference. Keep up the amazing work! 👏