Overview
Note: Washington state is receiving updated information from the federal government on a weekly basis regarding Afghan resettlement. To help provide the most accurate information, DSHS will update these web pages regularly.
The State of Washington and our community partners are gearing up to support Afghan arrivals and welcome them into our beautiful and diverse state through the United States government-initiated Operation Allies Refuge. Since 1979, Washington state has been welcoming refugees who flee persecution in their home country to rebuild their lives in our local communities. Today, Washington continues to be a welcoming place and is preparing to support those individuals and families arriving from Afghanistan. As we welcome our newest neighbors, we will continue to promote economic and social well-being for all people in our state and look forward to a Washington without poverty and injustice.
Welcoming refugees to our local communities takes a collective effort. The DSHS Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance has been working for decades with local refugee resettlement agencies and community-based organizations to provide support services to welcome refugees from more than 70 different nations. Today, we are partnering with the Muslim Association of Puget Sound – American Muslim Empowerment Network, better known as MAPS-AMEN, and building relationships with Afghan Americans and community-based organizations that work to welcome Afghan refugees. We are working to ensure that Afghan arrivals receive help through resettlement, access to public benefits and supportive services through our many partners.
We know that the people of Washington want to lend a helping hand during this moment of crisis. There are many ways to be a part of this important effort to care for our new friends, families and neighbors.
Host an Afghan refugee: Washington has partnered with Airbnb Open Home initiative. Open Homes hosts go through the Airbnb platform to provide free, temporary housing to folks in need as they resettle into their new communities. Hosts have full control over when and who they can accept, and would work with a local refugee resettlement agency staff member around specific housing requests before making the decision whether or not to accept. Please sign up to host at home through Airbnb.org.
On Tues, Dec. 7, DSHS and Airbnb.org hosted a webinar session to provide information to potential host homes. If you were unable to attend the webinar, please take the time to view this recording.
We hope you find the following pages on resettlement, public benefits, and supportive services useful in your efforts. Please check out the Washington State Department of Health’s website on Afghan Health Resources as well.
Join us in welcoming our new Afghan neighbors by downloading a welcome sign to share digitally or print and display: 8.5" x 11 or 11 x 17.
Download "This is Home" welcome booklets in Dari and Pashto.
Who are our community partners?
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Organization |
Services |
More Info and How to Help |
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Afghan American Cultural Association
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https://www.aaca-wa.org |
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Afghan Health Initiative
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https://afghanhealth.org/donate
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Diocese of Olympia Refugee Resettlement Office
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https://www.dioceserroseattle.org/
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International Rescue Committee
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IRC’s Welcome to Washington Fund
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Jewish Family Services
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https://www.jfsseattle.org/give-email/
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Kits for Peace/Essentials First
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Lutheran Community Services Northwest
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https://lcsnw.org/our-impact/refugee-and-immigrant-services/
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MAPS – AMEN
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MAPS – Muslim Community Resource Center
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Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest
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Refugee Women’s Alliance
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SCM Medical Missions
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https://www.scmmedicalmissions.org/
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World Relief
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https://worldrelief.org/western-wa/
https://worldrelief.org/spokane/
https://worldrelief.org/tricities/
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