Olha, a certified nursing assistant, is a very busy mom.
 
When she’s not busy working, cooking meals, or bringing her two sons to piano lessons, Olha is learning English — sometimes studying for five hours a day after work.
 
“After work, I go to English classes, but it’s difficult to be honest,” said Olha, who lives in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. “I need to improve my English just a little more.”
 
Olha, 38, is among the more the 6.5 million refugees who have fled from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a conflict which has triggered the largest refugee exodus in Europe since World War II.

Over 500,000 of these Ukrainian refugees have arrived in the United States, and New York State leads the country in welcoming them. In addition, since the beginning of the conflict, Catholic Charities has supported more than 4,000 Ukrainian refugees like Olha.
 
Here in New York, Olha is assisted by the Immigrant and Refugee Services Division of Catholic Charities Community Services, a Catholic Charities of New York agency. 
 
Catholic Charities helps newcomers to navigate unfamiliar systems and processes, overcome cultural challenges, learn English, find work, and make a new home. These services are critical to integrating refugees into American life.
 
“Catholic Charities helped me a lot. They gave me money to support myself when I first came here because I didn’t have a job,” said Olha. “They helped me to find a job.”
 
From providing new furniture and rental assistance to enrolling in public benefits, Olha has found a critical support system in Catholic Charities. Importantly, Catholic Charities also provided funds for Olha to become trained as a certified nursing assistant. Now, Olha works in an assisted living community and can support her family. 
 
“We are very happy to be here,” said Olha. “We very much appreciate the opportunity to study here, to work here.”
 
Finding a Safe Haven in New York City
 
In February of 2022, living in the southeastern city of Mariupol, Olha suddenly faced the frontlines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The devastation in Mariupol has been apocalyptic, with 95% of the city destroyed by bombardments and Russia’s siege. Ukrainian officials believe that at least 25,000 people in city alone have been killed. 
 
Among those dead, tragically, are Olha’s husband, mother, and other family members. Suddenly finding herself a widow and the sole provider for her two sons, she fled Mariupol with her children, under the immediate threat of losing their own lives.

In August of 2022, after a harrowing journey across eastern Europe, Olha and her two sons finally arrived in the United States. She felt a sense of home almost immediately.
 
“I remember this moment. I felt relieved. I understood that this was my country,” reflected Olha. “Even though I never thought that I would come to the United States.”
 
Responding to the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis through Partnerships
 
In February of 2022 during the onset of the conflict, Catholic Charities immediately took action and responded to the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
 
“So many refugees started to come to the U.S. to escape the war,” said Iryna, Project Director of Ukrainian Response at Catholic Charities Community Services. “They started to need immediate support.”
 
Catholic Charities was among the first organizations that city, state, and federal governments turned to for partnership in refugee resettlement efforts. “Catholic Charities took on leadership without hesitation,” said Iryna. “Among all the resettlement agencies in New York City, we are handling the largest number of Ukrainian refugees so far.”
 
Due to the high caseload volume of refugees, Catholic Charities also created new partnerships with other organizations such as the General Consulate of Ukraine in New York City, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations in New York City, the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), Lutheran Social Services of New York, New York City Immigration Coalition, and other refugee resettlement agencies like CAMBA, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Commonpoint Queens. This network works to ease the resettlement process for Ukrainian refugees and make as many services as possible available to them.
 
“Our hands are always open for newcomers,” said Iryna. “We are always welcoming and helping — no matter what.”
 
In addition, Catholic Charities has created unique partnerships to address immediate needs outside of rental assistance and job placement, such as mental health. Armed conflict can cause profound distress and can also worsen existing mental health conditions. “Many of our clients are vulnerable after escaping such a difficult situation — even a dangerous situation,” said Iryna. “They need mental health support.” 
 
In response, Catholic Charities created a partnership with Mount Sinai Health System. Through the partnership, Ukrainian refugees can receive full-service mental health support — from counseling and prescription medications to other therapies.
 
“It is amazing. Many of our clients have received free-of-charge mental health assistance from Mount Sinai, and they are very very happy about this,” said Iryna.
 
From job placement to health care, Catholic Charities is dedicated to helping our newest neighbors get the proper footing that they need in order to rebuild their lives and to realize their dreams of a better future.
 
Learning English to Return to College
 
Now having lived for two years here in New York, Olha’s dream is to become a registered nurse.
 
Like many skilled immigrants, Olha struggles to put her degree and credentials from Ukraine to use in the United States. Lengthy recertification processes, language barriers, and employers’ unfamiliarity with foreign credentials hobble many immigrants’ efforts to find work.
 
This has not deterred Olha. Although she has a Master’s degree in her native Ukraine, Olha is starting over by pursuing a new career path in health care.
 
“I applied to college this year,” said Olha, “but I know my English is not enough.” She is working on improving her English with the hope of enrolling in a nursing program soon.

She has the same dream for her sons. “If they work hard, my sons will go to college,” said Olha.  “I try to explain to my sons that although we had an unpleasant situation in Ukraine, we are here now,” said Olha. “We have to be very thankful.” 
 
“If you are a hard worker, you have a chance to live well in the United States,” said Olha. “You have a good chance. Yes, it takes time, but you have a chance.”

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