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Once the ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) in Salt Lake City confirms that a refugee family will soon arrive, housing team members spring into action to secure an apartment and plan logistics to set up the home. To alleviate some of the overwhelming pressures of moving, Housing Support Volunteers support the ̽����ѡ to move essential items into an empty apartment, working to set up a furnished home that is safe and secure. Jill Baker, Rob Kain, and Holli Turner are three volunteers that work to provide a welcoming home to new refugee families in Utah. They are a crucial part of the housing and resettlement process here in Salt Lake City.  

“They truly go above and beyond to make sure our clients come to a beautiful home,” said Estefany Castillo, housing and logistics coordinator. “They are always willing to go out of their way to help our team, and I can always count on them.”  

Holli, Jill, and Rob volunteer around three days a week depending on the scheduled new arrivals. Once a move has been confirmed, the team works with ̽����ѡ staff members to pick up donated furniture, such as couches and beds, and travel to housing units across Salt Lake Valley to set up. On days without a confirmed home setup, the group supports donation pickups, storage organization, and general logistics.

“I just love when we walk out and it looks like a home,” Holli said. “I know that families are probably exhausted and hungry when they get here. When we’re done, there’s food there and everything is set up, so they can literally go to bed if they want to and it’s okay.”  

Setting up new homes comes with its own personal reward and satisfaction. Rob said that during moves volunteers don’t always get to see the families, but when they do, families have always been grateful for their work. Stories of reunions are also common and are especially rewarding after a move.

“There were two brothers and their third brother was moving in with them, and I remember they were so excited because he was going to share a room with them,” Holli said. “They were so happy to be here, and seeing those kinds of reunions has been cool.” 

Since October 2021, the ̽����ѡ has resettled 1,046 individuals. While the ̽����ѡ's housing program continues to provide to ensure stable access to housing, the continuous stream of families can create logistical challenges for donated furniture.

“There are times when we’re running low on stuff, where you don’t have enough couches or chairs, so you’re mixing and matching stuff,” Rob said. “It can be hit or miss on what you have at any given time.”

While housing support can feel like only a small part of what ̽����ѡ does, Rob said meeting the families and seeing their reactions makes it feel more real, and big.

“It hits home what we’re really doing at the end of the day and the people we’re doing it for,” Rob said. “These people are coming from and landing in hard circumstances. Even though they may be out of danger, they’re totally displaced, so you’re trying to make it a little bit easier for them.” 

Jill agreed with Rob and said she also hoped families see all the segments of the housing team coming together to provide them with a space to call home.

“I want families to feel welcome,” Jill said. “They may not always have great receptions, so I want them to have a good representation of the country, and for us to hopefully set them off on a good foot.”

Rob, Jill, and Holli agreed that they’ve enjoyed everyone they’ve worked with. In the future, the group hopes that more community supporters will sign up for housing support and are looking forward to continuing volunteering at the ̽����ѡ.

“We’re here for a good cause and you feel so good while you’re here,” Holli said. “I wish there were more people that could enjoy it the way we do and see how much fun we’re having, and that it’s not just all manual labor.”

The ̽����ѡ in Salt Lake City continues to accept new and like-new home furnishings. Learn more by visiting Rescue.org/DonateSLC. If you're interested in joining the Housing Support Volunteer team, start here »