'All hands on deck' Acton prepares for influx of Afghan refugees

Right now, in military bases around the world, about 50,000 people who fled Afghanistan as the U.S. withdrew and the Taliban swept to power, wait for a chance to come to the United States. 

About 1,000 will come to Massachusetts sometime over the next several months. They will arrive with a one-time stipend paid to a relief agency, and little else. They will need housing, financial support and culturally-competent food. 

Because the bulk of the emigres are not legally designated refugees -  they are parolees or humanitarian evacuees - they do not qualify for federal benefits and many will come without work permits or green cards, limiting their income opportunities. 

"They will depend on community support,"  said Malika MacDonald, director of the New England Field Office of the Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA.

Now, a group of legislators, faith leaders and residents from Acton and surrounding towns, are beginning to assemble an infrastructure to accommodate those looming resettlements. 

"This is the largest effort I've seen in my senate district," said state Sen. Jamie Eldridge. 

According to the Acton Democrat, the goal is to be ready when called upon. The informal group held its first meeting last week. 

"It's very common for faith-based groups, through their networks, for congregants to step up and help," he said. 

Among the groups at the meeting was the Jewish Commuinity Relations Council, a coalition dedicated to advancing the values, interests, and priorities of the organized Jewish community in greater Boston. 

“In this moment of crisis, we have been reaching out to congregations in the area, who have expressed a commitment to welcoming immigrants in the past, as well as engaging many communities who have reached out to us proactively wanting to open their arms and hearts,” said Rachie Lewis, the JCRC’s director of synagogue organizing, via email.

Even if the full 1,000 number  were to reach the Bay State, not all would settle in Metrowest. 

"They could be anywhere across the state," Eldridge said. "Cities like Lowell, Worcester and Springfield have a long history of welcoming refugees." 

They will, MacDonald said, be settled wherever affordable housing can be found. 

"It's all hands on deck," she said. "We are stressing the need  for affordable housing. This isn't just for Afghans or other refugees, but for low income people as well." 

That in mind, it is unfair to think property owners should shoulder the burden, she said. 

There is no timeframe right now. Because they are working through the resettlement bureaucracy, it will take time. 

"They will be resettling throughout the year," she said. 

For the Metrowest groups, the scope of the effort to help is new. Eldridge believes the scale of the Afghan crisis may play into the size of the response.  The planning is important - it is no mean trick to integrate a huge number of people into an area, particularly when they arrive with little or nothing of their own. 

"So far, two families have contacted us who might be able to accommodate them," he said. "It is an interesting question - how do you find places in an area where there is a housing crisis?"

The group plans to meet Tuesday night for further planning - everything from the continued search for housing to fundraising to basically just trying to puzzle out how they, collectively, can be of assistance, Eldridge said.

Other groups at the meeting with Eldridge included the First Parish Church of Bedford, South Acton Congregational Church, Congregation Beth Elohim in Acton, Congregation Beth El in Sudbury and the UCC church in Boxborough.