Monthly Update

Hello Amazing Supporter!

The focus shift at HNB continued this past month, and most definitely into July, as we continue to see a decrease in new arrivals due to the administration's near-total ban on all legal immigration, except Special Immigrant Visa holders. We are on track to serve just 8 to 10 families with home setups for July - a number we have not seen since August 2021, just before the fall of Kabul.

On the other end, Newcomers to Neighbors is going strong, and our two cohorts attended a baseball game (Go Nats!!) and a financial literacy workshop in the past few weeks. And if you are interested in participating in the next cohort, please see the volunteer and client ask below.

HNB is also exploring ways to revamp the artisan program, including taking it in a more entrepreneurial direction and expanding to carpentry as well. In fact, Atheer, our longtime driver and donations assistant, has started making some items of his own - look at those beautiful cutting boards above - that will soon go on sale!

Additionally, we are kickstarting our storytelling training for the year (see below for more info) - as just one more way to celebrate the awesomeness of refugees and forced migrants!

Thanks for your continued support of HNB through this shift, and most importantly, thanks for your continued support of our new neighbors through these ever-challenging times.

In Solidarity,

Laura Thompson Osuri

Executive Director

JUNE IMPACT

80

individuals helped with household goods & furniture

19

set-ups completed

17

families supported with case work and mentoring

$38,700

in household goods and furnishings passed along to refugees

722

volunteer hours

$1,020

in money to refugees (Moving Up Fund & Artisans earning)

REFUGEE & SIV UPDATE

In the past month, the administration has continued its assault on our new neighbors. While we have, thankfully, not heard of any raids in the area like in some other parts of the country, our clients are generally worried about being targeted, even though most all of them have legal status. And their fears are not unwarranted, as ICE has picked up numerous people who are legally here, including this Afghan ally in San Diego detained by ICE.

However, the most immediate worry for new immigrants and those who serve them is the massive cuts to benefits in the giant bill that Trump signed on July 4th. Per the new law, SNAP food benefits will be cut for anyone who is not a legal permanent resident (green card holder) or a citizen, and a handful of other exceptions. This means recent refugees and asylum seekers will lose this benefit. Most will also lose their Medicare and Medicaid as well, though those changes won't go into effect right away.

You can read more details on the new laws in this Immigration Forum Update. But just one awful tidbit is that it includes $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement, more than four times the amount of previous years, (while not increasing immigration judges and putting in obstacles to the process.)

We at Homes Not Borders are already talking amongst ourselves and with partners about how we can help our new neighbors under this new reality, so stay tuned for updates!



HNB NEWS

Thank You Prime Day Shoppers!

Thanks to all those who did some shopping for refugees during Amazon Prime Days! Your efforts brought in nearly $4,000 of set up supplies for newly arrived SIVs.

Our volunteers (including Christina and Ellie, pictured here) enjoyed unpacking everything. And we are now well stocked with beds, sheets, pots and pans and kitchen items. So we can save that money and put it towards our other programs. Thank you!!!

Take Part in our Moth Storytelling Workshop - for free

Homes Not Borders, along with our partners at The Moth (the nation's largest storytelling nonprofit and producer of The Moth Radio Hour on NPR) will once again be holding a workshop to help a select number of individuals with forced migration tell their story in The Moth style.

And we have few open slots, and want to offer them up - for free to our supporters. Below are the details. So if you have a forced migrant story, are interested, and can attend both classes, please email our development director, Amy Wrona, at amy@homesnotborders.org.

When: Saturday Sept 13th (10-4) & Sunday, Sept 14th (10-5)

Where: Industrious Pike & Rose, 909 Rose Ave Suite 400, North Bethesda

What: In-depth instruction on how to craft and tell a story from professionals from The Moth

3610 East Street, Landover, MD 20785

info@homesnotborders.org • www.homesnotborders.org