What is an NST?
A “Neighborhood Support Team,” or NST, is a volunteer group of 10-20 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.
Forming an NST
We’ve worked with over 4,000 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 are 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 guide you through everything that comes next, including:
Kick Off: Your mentor will hold an official Kick Off with your team that includes practical training on team organization, guidance on fundraising and housing identification, and other important information.
Application: A member of your NST will fill out the Welcome Corps application and submit it.
Preparation and Arrival: You’ll prepare for the family’s arrival and the adventure begins!
What makes a great team lead?
Empathetic to the
plight of refugees
The desire to offer what you have
to someone in need
A community organizer
An entrepreneurial spirit
