Community Sponsorship of Refugees: Lessons from the HIAS Network

Community sponsorship can strengthen refugee resettlement by bringing together refugees, volunteers, and resettlement agencies to support reception and integration. By building trusting relationships and connecting newcomers with local resources and networks, community sponsorship can help strengthen social connections and support refugees as they establish their lives in new communities.

The HIAS report Community Sponsorship of Refugees: Learnings from Innovation and Mobilization in the HIAS Network, 2021–2024 examines four years of community sponsorship programming across the United States. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with 49 refugees, 33 volunteers, and 34 resettlement agency staff across four sites, the report highlights the diverse roles volunteers can play, including accompanying, connecting, advocating, informing, advising, and providing resources. It also emphasizes the importance of clearly defined responsibilities, ongoing coordination, volunteer training, and ensuring that newcomers set the pace of sponsorship relationships.

The report provides valuable lessons for policymakers, resettlement practitioners, community organizations, and researchers seeking to develop sustainable and effective sponsorship models. Its recommendations emphasize robust theories of change and evaluation, strong volunteer coordination, peer learning and mentorship, and program designs that respond to local needs while maintaining meaningful support for refugees.