From left, Gordon Harris, Linda Harris, Rev. Lucille Fritz and Robert Margolies, members of the Valley Refugee Resettlement Project, pose in front of Huntington Congregational Church, in Shelton, Conn. May 13, 2022.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut MediaSHELTON — The Valley Refugee Resettlement Project will be hosting a refugee family from Syria in the coming days.
The family of two parents and four children arrives in the U.S. from Turkey on March 6, according to Project co-chair Rich Knoll. Meanwhile, the project, which formed last year at Huntington Congregational Church, is actively seeking a three-bedroom apartment to lease in the central Shelton area.
The family will be lodged temporarily in a local extended stay hotel until an apartment is leased. The church as the Valley Refugee Resettlement Project will co-sign the apartment lease as an assurance to the landlord. Carey and Guarrera Realty is helping the group find a suitable apartment, close to public transportation.
Interested property owners may contact Keenan Carey at 203-925-0058 or Gordon Harris at 203-605-5233.
Knoll said the costs to resettle a family are considerable, as they will be coming with only minimal clothing and few resources. Project leaders welcome financial contributions from the public. A GoFundMe account has been created at https://gofund.me/f503d48b.
The Valley Project was certified by Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services of New Haven as a community co-sponsor in November after meeting specific organizational and fundraising mandates, and has been awaiting an offer from IRIS to relocate a family.
The Project is responsible for providing a furnished apartment, clothing, school supplies and food until the family is self-sufficient. Adults will seek employment as soon as possible. Potential employers are asked to contact Project liaison Byron Peterson at Petersonbyron62@gmail.com.
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com