PORTLAND, Ore. — A "crisis level" situation for refugees has prompted a Portland-based charity group to put out the call for volunteers to temporarily house people fleeing from danger abroad.
Catholic Charities announced Monday that it's looking for local property owners and faith-based groups to offer up spare rooms, available rental units or homes in order to take in refugees. That includes landlords, Airbnb owners or even ordinary homeowners with spare rooms.
Temporary housing of this kind is usually needed for spans of three to six months.
“Public funding for short-term housing for refugees is running out, and we hope citizens of goodwill can step forward to help these brave people who have escaped danger,” said Claudia Munoz, program director of Refugee Services for Catholic Charities.
The charity group has been able to house refugees in hotel rooms before, but federal funding for that kind of stay is "limited to specific populations" and has otherwise run out, according to Munoz.
"There's a lot of our refugees that have been in camps for 10 to 20 years, you know, so they never had a stove or they don't even know how to use the restroom or stuff like that," Munoz told KGW. "So even just providing that bed and that space for them to feel safe, you know — that means a lot."
Right now the group is looking to house single refugees or couples without children due to the extra cost required of housing larger groups. Catholic Charities said that the federal government provides each refugee with a flat $1,375 to cover housing and basic needs. That money runs out fast, they said, particularly in Oregon.
Catholic Charities said it has resettled 247 refugees in the last 12 months. It expects to do the same for 335 more in the next year, hailing from places like the Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Central America.
"Those granted refugee status by federal authorities would face peril if returned to their homelands," the organization said. "The government asks agencies like Catholic Charities to resettle refugees. The process follows legal and proper channels established by Congress which include extensive background checks and medical screenings prior to arrival in the U.S."
In Oregon, Portland offers the best concentration of necessary services, including health care and federal offices, so Catholic Charities is primarily looking for temporary housing in or near the city, Munoz said. Ideally, a church, home or neighborhood would offer multiple rooms to house several people at once.
“We could build little communities where refugees can learn to navigate a new culture and community in a safe space,” Munoz said.
Refugees are provided with phones that include translation software, and they're provided case management support for at least 90 days after arrival.
Those with rooms to offer can contact Munoz at cmunoz@ccoregon.org or by calling 503-688-2540.