Support Undocumented Migrants with Havenly

This year, Havenly needs your support to continue supporting refugee and migrant women across legal barriers. We are raising $50,000 for an undocumented scholarship and small business support fund. Undocumented women often need the program most, because they do not receive support from other non-profit organizations or federal agencies working with refugees. That is why we need the help of private donors like you.

Havenly is one of the only organizations in the state of CT who provides job training for undocumented migrants. According to recent estimates, there are more than 15,000 undocumented migrants living in New Haven alone - some estimates say the number might be as high as 51,000. They do not qualify for any type of formal support, and live in a constant state of fear of deportation. This fear keeps family in the shadows, scared of seeking support of any kind. Undocumented women thus face higher levels of poverty and marginalization, often working under the table and in abusive work conditions. By providing paid job training opportunities, Havenly supports this community in a truly transformative way. 

We stand by all people seeking refuge, whether they have been officially recognized as refugees or not. According to the UN, a refugee is a person who has to leave their country for fear of persecution or death. However, each country and its lawyers interpret this definition in different ways, and often, that ends up excluding people that are fleeing violence and scared to go home. There is no actual system of accountability that holds countries responsible for the way they choose to decide who is a refugee and who isn’t. For example, to legally enter the U.S. as a refugee, a person has to go through a long, bureaucratic process (which can sometimes take decades!) to prove that their claims are credible and that they pass U.S. criteria to be considered a refugee. But that criteria can change any time, and is often related to who the U.S. government perceives as deserving of help. Victims of gang violence, for example, have not been eligible for refugee status since 2018. Afghans are also currently in a legal limbo, waiting for approval to stay in the country every few months.

$30,000 will cover educational and working stipends for 6 fellows, as well as childcare and interpretation support, and bus passes for them to be able to participate in the program. The donations will also provide funds to hold small business workshops and support graduates interested in creating their own business.