What is an NST?
A “Neighborhood Support Team,” or NST, is a volunteer group of 20-30 people who work together to welcome a refugee family into their community. Each NST has two team leads who coordinate the efforts, and teams are organized by interest into subcommittees of people who fill specific roles (e.g., benefits, education, employment, etc.). NSTs raise money, find housing and officially commit to helping a family through their first 6-12 months of resettlement, but the friendships formed may last a lifetime.
Form an NST
We’ve worked with over 2,000 neighbors who came together to support incoming refugee families. Some are from communities of faith, some share a neighborhood, some are friends or colleagues and some are joined by a common interest. All drawn together by one person who takes the leap to form an NST.
All you have to do is decide to engage your community to welcome a refugee family to your neighborhood and REGISTER YOUR TEAM! We’ll help you with the rest.
Once registered, WelcomeNST will assign you a mentor, who will walk with you through everything that comes next, including:
Matching: We will match your NST with a family seeking refuge.
Application: A member of your NST will fill out the I-134 application and submit it to USCIS.
Kick Off: Your mentor will hold an official Kick Off with your team with practical training on team organization, fundraising and housing identification
Preparation and Arrival: You’ll prepare for the family’s arrival and the adventure begins!
What makes a great team lead?
Being empathetic to the
plight of refugees
The desire to offer what you have
to someone in need
A community organizer
An entrepreneurial spirit
“Forming a church-based NST is a powerful way to build community and relationships. It’s a beautiful experience where we’ve seen healing, connection, personal growth, and a deeper commitment to our church.”
-Kasey Dillon, NST Lead
Help Us Serve Refugees in all 50 States!
