PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland's housing market is tight, which means it's difficult for many to find a new home, including refugees. Catholic Charities of Oregon helps about 350 refugees settle in Oregon each year and all of them need a place to call home.
On Wednesday, the nonprofit greeted 21 new refugees.
"At least three different larger families," said Jesse Crawford, the refugee service housing coordinator for Catholic Charities. "They're coming from all over."
Catholic Charities always tries to keep families together. Splitting up families into different units isn't ideal, so the nonprofit is looking for three- and four-bedroom houses.
"We'd like to reach more independent renters," Crawford said. "Folks who understand the barriers our clients face and are willing to rent to them."
Crawford said these families will spend time in hotels until temporary or permanent housing opens up.
"Without the kindness of others, it would be a real struggle to get their feet under them," Crawford said.
Olha Morhunova works as a case manager for Catholic Charities. She understands the fear many refugees feel when they first arrive in the United States because she experienced it herself.
Morhunova moved to the U.S. with her son about a year and a half ago, leaving Ukraine not long after Russia invaded the neighboring country in 2022.
"I am here because of the war," Morhunova said solemnly.
She said the transition was challenging: "Everything was difficult for me. Everything."
While it wasn't Catholic Charities that helped her settle in, she did have support. Morhunova said having someone to guide her through all the changes was critical and that led her to becoming a case worker, assisting newcomers.
"When you have someone who tells you, 'You can do this,' you feel the power inside, (that) you really can do this," she said.
Morhunova said one of the first steps to applying for proper documentation and sending children to school is settling into a permanent address. That's why finding housing that can fit these three big families is integral to their success in Oregon.
"Sometimes we have really big families of seven or nine people, and they still need some place to live," Morhunova said.
You can learn more by contacting Crawford at jcrawford@ccoregon.org or clicking here.