This month, the CFOC Nonprofit Spotlight features The Otsego Refugee Resettlement Coalition.
The Otsego Refugee Resettlement Coalition (initially assembled in 2021) brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, educational institutions, faith communities, and individuals to establish a process to resettle refugees in Otsego County. It models its efforts on the success of The Center in Utica, New York.
Otsego County, like much of upstate New York, has been losing population. Businesses cannot find enough people to hire, making it difficult for them to operate at full capacity. Schools have fewer students and thus receive less state assistance. Communities—finding themselves with fewer residents—struggle to balance budgets and raise the tax revenue necessary to support public infrastructure. The Coalition seeks to bring in new people with diverse experiences and fresh ideas to help grow our county. Refugees and immigrants are heavily vetted before they arrive. They are very likely to work hard, start new businesses, and value the opportunities of their new country. In the long run they add value to their new community and increase local tax revenues.
The Coalition focuses on sponsoring refugees. A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their country because of persecution. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They cannot return home or are afraid to do so. The Coalition works with refugees who have requested refugee status outside the United States. After a thorough vetting process by the FBI, CIA, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security, they are cleared to travel to the United States and resettle.
In June 2023, the Coalition welcomed its first group of refugees. The Wall Street Journal profiled this work as an example of how rural communities can benefit from refugee resettlement. In May 2024, the Coalition welcomed a refugee who is now working full-time. And in March 2025 the Coalition welcomed a family of five (two parents and three young children) with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). There is a tremendous need to sponsor Afghans who assisted US troops during the war in Afghanistan and now risk persecution by the Taliban. The Coalition looks forward to welcoming as many SIVs as it can.
Refugees are supported financially for at most 90 days. During this time the Coalition provides housing, assists in accessing SNAP benefits and Medicaid, works with the CDO Workforce to find jobs, helps enroll children in school, helps newcomers apply for New York State IDs or driver’s licenses, and ensures that newcomers are able to achieve independence. After the initial resettlement period refugees are no longer supported financially by the Coalition but they can rely on the Coalition for guidance as they become members of our community.
The Coalition works with other organizations such as Literacy Volunteers of Otsego and Delaware Counties for English language instruction and Hiscock Legal Aid Society for maintaining legal immigration status.
The Coalition has
- created an inventory of housing options with landlords in and near Oneonta who are willing to rent apartments and houses to refugees
- collected donated household items, furniture, and clothing for refugees
- identified employers who are eager to hire refugees
- coordinated with the Department of Social Services in Otsego County to provide public benefits to refugees
- received assurance from the Oneonta City School District that refugee children will be welcomed
The Coalition welcomes anyone to join its mailing list and support its efforts. For more information, please visit its website or Facebook page.
