Six residents are working together and with government agencies to bring Ukrainian refugees to Haines. Heather Lende, the group’s spokesperson, said the project is in its beginning stages of drafting an application and browsing suitable housing and work opportunities.
“It’s a rather involved application process,” sponsor Jim Wilson said. “Six of us have to go through background checks and a number of requirements involved to satisfy the placement agency.”
The group is considered a “sponsor circle” and is part of a new private resident refugee resettlement program under the Biden administration.
“Many communities in Alaska have taken advantage of it,” Issa Spatrisano, Director of Refugee Resettlement at Catholic Social Services in Anchorage, said. “We find most communities find it good for the community. It brings skilled labor amongst other things the community may need. We have seen on a local level many Ukrainian refugees entering the workforce and contributing to the economy.”
The program requires applicants to specify housing, transportation, education and employment options. The sponsor circle would act as a second family for the refugees until Ukraine becomes safer, Lende said.
“The issues a family is facing is one that any family would face coming here,” she said. “A single mom with children might not be able to work any of the jobs available in Haines because she wouldn’t have childcare. Childcare is a big one, especially for someone who has been separated from their family.”
After the application is accepted, it could be weeks or months before the refugees are able to arrive, Wilson said. The group will not know who they are sponsoring until their application is accepted. Beyond the application process, “the rest is still up in the air,” Lende said.
“We don’t want to appear like we’re giving this great charity,” she said. “We’re trying to stay clear of that. We’re looking at it from the perspective of the family. It’s an unusual type of situation and we want to make it as comfortable for them to be here, not feeling beholden to us.”
The group is not accepting any financial pledges at this time.
“All the organizations I spoke with then and now have been encouraging and supportive, it’s just still quite early for us,” Wilson said.