YonkersTimes.com and Yonkers Rising has learned about a heartwarming story involving Afghan refugees that are already in Yonkers, as the City is about to welcome another 50. Governor Hochul announced yesterday that 1,790 Afghan refugees that have been temporarily on Army bases are being relocated across New York State.
We were able to speak with Kathie O’Callaghan, founder and President of Hearts & Homes for Refugees, a Westchester non for profit that has been working since 2016 to raise money and seek volunteers to help and welcome refugees. We learned a few things from our conversation with O’Callaghan and Hearts & Homes about the work that they do.
First, the money raised from donations goes to support refugee families get on their feet, with a home and other basics, from three months to one year, until they are acclimated and become active participants in their communities.
Recently, Hearts & Homes helped place an Afghani family in an apartment in Yonkers. Before they moved in, a volunteer crew arrived and clean up and fixed up the apartment. The landlord was so impressed with the volunteers and the total effort of this organization that he offered to house another family from Afghanistan, and a third family. So now there are three families from Afghanistan who are living in this small apartment building in Yonkers, and the landlord has welcomed them with open arms.
The landlord is happy because the families are immigrants who are learning the language and the children are going to school and the adults are getting a job. And the rent for the first year is paid for by Hearts & Homes.
That was our first question to O’Callaghan, where will the 50 arriving Afghani immigrants move to? They will move to apartments in and around Westchester.
Some Yonkers residents complained how come Yonkers gets all of the immigrants, and the homeless, and half of the affordable housing units in Westchester? Why can’t these immigrants move to Scarsdale?
O’Callaghan’s answer made sense to us, but may not appease those who are fearful of foreigners. Yonkers is the largest city, and as a result has the most number of apartments, and the rents for those apartments are among the most reasonable in Westchester.
“If you were coming to America from another country, and moved into Westchester, Yonkers is the most diverse and ethnically welcome community in Westchester. You might not feel comfortable in Scarsdale,” said O’Callaghan, who did add that Hearts & Homes has relocated refugee families to Pelham and almost every community in Westchester.
Yonkers also has the ability for a new family to get around without a car, and the ability to get to the subway if they want to work in New York City.
The $5 Million in State grants announced by Governor Hochul on Dec. 8 will go to support programs, but the money raised by Hearts & Homes goes to the ‘Nuts & Bolts’ that the families need; housing, food, clothing, furniture.
Another complaint raised by some in Yonkers. We have homeless on the streets already, and homeless Veterans. What about them? Why can’t we help them first?
O’Callaghan said, “One is not exclusive to the other, and many of our volunteers have worked with the homeless and our homeless veterans and continue to do so. We can try to help both the homeless Americans and refugees.”
Federal funds will also help these refugees get on their feet.
Here what one Veteran told us, we were in their country for 20 years, and then left abruptly. The least we can do for those who worked with us in Afghanistan is to give them a chance here in America. That is what this country is all about. They are good people who want nothing more than a chance. I’m from Yonkers and I’m willing to give them a chance, ” said Robert Mozian.
In addition to Hearts & Homes, Catholic Charities, and other non-profits that have been approved by the U.S. Government and working to give these refugees the help and support they need in the first year in our country.
O’Callaghan requested volunteers, and the Yonkers community, to come forward to help these Afghans as they relocate into their City. Donations are also welcome to Hearts & Homes. For more information, visit https://www.heartsandhomesforrefugees.org.
And remember it’s the Holiday season for ALL.
