UPDATES
April 24-27: Boise Planning & Zoning Commission will hear testimony on the proposed zoning code updates. Meeting calendar.
April 27: Boise State University Service-Learning Partnership Mixer
May 15: Neighbors United Gathering: Lunch + strategic plan unveiling! Please RSVP here (by May 4 if you would like lunch).
Resettlement Survey: Neighbors United network members are encouraged to provide feedback to the Idaho Office for Refugees and partnering resettlement agencies about the projected number of refugee arrivals for FY2023. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. Thank you!
Seeking volunteer drivers for the Idaho Office for Refugees Young Adult After-School Program on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Boise. Please contact Chantale at cniyonkuru@idahorefugees.org.
April 27: Boise State University Service-Learning Partnership Mixer
May 15: Neighbors United Gathering: Lunch + strategic plan unveiling! Please RSVP here (by May 4 if you would like lunch).
Resettlement Survey: Neighbors United network members are encouraged to provide feedback to the Idaho Office for Refugees and partnering resettlement agencies about the projected number of refugee arrivals for FY2023. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. Thank you!
Seeking volunteer drivers for the Idaho Office for Refugees Young Adult After-School Program on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Boise. Please contact Chantale at cniyonkuru@idahorefugees.org.
RESOURCES
Here's a recap of the latest Community Coordination Meeting with resettlement partners.
The House Your Neighbor toolkit is now online! A project of the Neighbors United Housing Task Force to empower network members to build awareness and education around housing for refugee neighbors.
Officer Travis Buffi is the Refugee Liaison Officer with the Boise Police Department. He can be reached at tbuffi@cityofboise.org or 208-519-1942. Learn more about him and the role.
Eulalia Gallegos is the city of Boise's Language Access Program Manager. Her role focuses on ensuring equal access to city services, activities, programs, and facilities for bilingual or multilingual people or those who prefer a language other than English. Learn more here.
Jannus Economic Opportunity (EO) offers free business and financial literacy classes in Boise and Twin Falls. Find a schedule of events here. EO also works with 30 child care providers in Ada and Canyon counties that offer affordable, culturally appropriate child care services. Some offer transportation and alternative shifts. Contact Jenny Hay for a list of providers a jhay@jannus.org.
Sponsor Circles and Welcome Connect are new programs that connect U.S. sponsors with Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, providing another pathway to resettlement. Clink on each link to learn more about becoming a sponsor!
Update on Ukraine: Ukrainians entering the U.S. through humanitarian parole are eligible for refugee program benefits. Anyone needing to be connected to services can contact the Idaho Alliance for Ukrainian Immigrants and Refugees for assistance.
Immigration Assistance for Afghan Refugees: Resettlement agencies are working with immigration attorneys to provide expert guidance to arrivals in the Afghan Placement & Assistance Program who are applying for permanent legal status. If you are an APA client, please find guidance here in English, Dari ( دری) and Pashto (پښتو).
Information on the Afghan Adjustment Act, which, if passed by Congress, would provide Afghan arrivals with a pathway to permanent residence.
A curated selection of resources for Afghans and providers from the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants.
Stay Up to Date
The House Your Neighbor toolkit is now online! A project of the Neighbors United Housing Task Force to empower network members to build awareness and education around housing for refugee neighbors.
Officer Travis Buffi is the Refugee Liaison Officer with the Boise Police Department. He can be reached at tbuffi@cityofboise.org or 208-519-1942. Learn more about him and the role.
Eulalia Gallegos is the city of Boise's Language Access Program Manager. Her role focuses on ensuring equal access to city services, activities, programs, and facilities for bilingual or multilingual people or those who prefer a language other than English. Learn more here.
Jannus Economic Opportunity (EO) offers free business and financial literacy classes in Boise and Twin Falls. Find a schedule of events here. EO also works with 30 child care providers in Ada and Canyon counties that offer affordable, culturally appropriate child care services. Some offer transportation and alternative shifts. Contact Jenny Hay for a list of providers a jhay@jannus.org.
Sponsor Circles and Welcome Connect are new programs that connect U.S. sponsors with Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, providing another pathway to resettlement. Clink on each link to learn more about becoming a sponsor!
- If you're interested in becoming a sponsor and would like to learn more from Joe & Kim Mitchell, who operate a successful Sponsor Circle in Idaho Falls, please reach out to Holly at hbeech@idahorefugees.org to get connected.
Update on Ukraine: Ukrainians entering the U.S. through humanitarian parole are eligible for refugee program benefits. Anyone needing to be connected to services can contact the Idaho Alliance for Ukrainian Immigrants and Refugees for assistance.
Immigration Assistance for Afghan Refugees: Resettlement agencies are working with immigration attorneys to provide expert guidance to arrivals in the Afghan Placement & Assistance Program who are applying for permanent legal status. If you are an APA client, please find guidance here in English, Dari ( دری) and Pashto (پښتو).
Information on the Afghan Adjustment Act, which, if passed by Congress, would provide Afghan arrivals with a pathway to permanent residence.
A curated selection of resources for Afghans and providers from the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants.
Stay Up to Date
- Neighbors United newsletter
- Community Calendar
- Please send any newsletter or calendar items to Holly Beech with the Idaho Office for Refugees.
TASK FORCE UPDATES
Education Task Force
YOUTH PROGRAMS: Chantale Niyonkuru serves as Youth Services Specialist at the Idaho Office for Refugees and organizes summer and after-school youth programs, Contact her at cniyonkuru@idahorefugees.org.
VIRTUAL SCHOOL TOURS: Boise School District offers virtual tours of school buildings, a cool resources for new families.
Housing Task Force
HOUSE YOUR NEIGHBOR: House Your Neighbor is our initiative to connect affordable housing resources with newly arriving refugee families and individuals. If you have a rental, ADU or other interest in helping with housing, learn more here.
HouseYourNeighbor.org has released a toolkit for partners to use in bringing their networks onboard with housing awareness and solutions! Click here to browse our FAQ, blog posts, social media templates, and (coming soon) video testimonials.
| Fact Sheet: Renting to Refugees |
BOISE ZONING CODE: The city of Boise is in the process of rewriting its zoning code, which includes discussions around affordable housing policies. Public feedback is welcome. Details here.
Health Task Force
New: Expansion of Health Promotion through CORE and NRC-RIM Partnership
Check out the first episode of NCIHC's "Interpreting for Healthcare" podcast! Announcing the first in a series of NCIHC podcasts that are intended for healthcare interpreters and all those interested in improving linguistic access.
FREE E-LEARNING: MCIS Language Solutions has developed a free online training on secondary trauma and fostering wellness for interpreters.
UNITING FOR UKRAINE BENEFITS: Most displaced Ukrainian nationals arriving in the United States are eligible for health insurance. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a fact sheet on July 14 to provide states and stakeholders information on eligibility and health coverage options:
These health coverage options are available as a result of the 2022 Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act and the Uniting for Ukraine program.
Certain Ukrainian nationals are eligible for health coverage through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA). The fact sheet provides information based on current law and will be updated if there are future legislative changes.
Certain Ukrainian nationals are eligible for health coverage through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA). The fact sheet provides information based on current law and will be updated if there are future legislative changes.