Families fleeing war don’t stop needing support once they’ve arrived in Oregon. For many Ukrainian families, a temporary setback like a layoff or a delayed work authorization can put housing at risk. Through funding from the Ukraine Refugee Support program, a few months of rental assistance and personalized support are helping families stay housed while they rebuild stable, independent lives.
Sometimes Stability is Just One Paycheck Away
When a father of two lost his job after being laid off from Intel, everything his family had worked to build in Oregon suddenly felt uncertain.
He and his wife arrived from Ukraine in 2022 through the Ukraine Humanitarian Parole (UHP), seeking safety after war forced them from home. By the time they connected with Catholic Charities of Oregon, they had spent several years building a new life in Washington County. They were raising two young children, ages 8 and 3, while he worked in the technology sector, and she stayed home caring for the family.
Then came the layoff.
For many families, even a brief interruption in income can quickly become a housing crisis.
Through funding from the Ukraine Refugee Support program made possible by the Oregon Department of Human Services, the family received one month of rental assistance while working closely with Refugee Housing Case Manager Jesse Morris.
Together they explored employment resources through WorkSource Oregon, discussed transportation needs and checked in regularly about the family’s progress. Within weeks, the father received a new job offer.
Soon after, the family no longer needed rental assistance and successfully completed the program.
“They were constantly communicating with me,” Morris said. “They were incredibly grateful and kept me updated every step of the way.”
Sometimes, one month’s assistance is enough to help a family regain its footing.
Building Independence One Step at a Time
Another Ukrainian family recently reached a similar milestone.
The multigenerational household includes parents, two adult sons and an 80-year-old grandmother. Like many families displaced by war, their path toward stability has been complicated by immigration paperwork beyond their control.
While the father worked part time, both adult sons waited months for employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. UHP status expired for one of them, and their renewal application has been pending approval for months.
Catholic Charities provided three months of rental assistance while connecting the family with additional community resources, including food support through the agency’s Pop-Up Pantry and local events hosted by other nonprofits, such as the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO).
During one of their monthly meetings, the mother asked Morris an important question.
“If I get a job and start making more money, will we still qualify for rental assistance?”
For Morris, her question reflected exactly what CCOs refugee support services are designed to accomplish.
“We want families to become self-sufficient,” he said. “When someone is earning enough to cover their bills, that means they’re reaching the goal.”
A few days later, she shared the news that she had found work.
Although her position is temporary and the family may need additional support in the future, they are now moving toward financial independence.
More than Financial Assistance
The services Catholic Charities provides to refugees are about far more than paying rent.
Case managers help refugee families navigate public transportation, connect with employment services, access food resources, understand local systems and solve the everyday challenges that come with rebuilding life in a new country.
Each family’s needs are reassessed monthly, so assistance reflects their current situation and allows Catholic Charities to help as many households as possible.
For Morris, one of the most rewarding parts of the work is watching families regain confidence.
Rebuilding Doesn’t End When Families Reach Safety
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Catholic Charities has served hundreds of Ukrainian families. Agency records show about 184 Ukrainian enrollments during fiscal year 2024, 42 during fiscal year 2025 and an additional 172 enrollments since the agency transitioned to its current case management system in spring 2025.
While the federal humanitarian parole program that allowed many Ukrainians to enter the United States has since been halted, families already here continue facing significant challenges.
One of the biggest is employment authorization.
Many Ukrainians must renew their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to continue working legally. Renewal applications can take approximately 16 months to process. At the same time, filing fees can exceed $750 per work permit, while applications to renew humanitarian parole can cost roughly $1600 per person.
For a family of four, those costs can quickly become overwhelming.
Morris says many families rarely talk about the war they left behind. Instead, their conversations focus on finding jobs, paying rent, enrolling children in school and creating a stable future. That’s where Catholic Charities continues to walk alongside them.
Sometimes, all it takes is one month’s rent, a job lead, or someone willing to help navigate an unfamiliar system. For families rebuilding after war, those small moments can make all the difference.
Your gift helps families overcome temporary setbacks before they become lasting crises. This summer, you can help refugee families — and so many others across Oregon — find the stability they need to move forward. Make your gift today, and help create another success story.