Blog

Caledonian Record: Local Nonprofit Helps Asylum Seekers From Other Countries

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Kathy H.

December 29, 2022

A local non-profit organization has been operating quietly for the past few years.

But at Wednesday night’s St. Johnsbury Select Board meeting, they publicly announced themselves to the community.

Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seekers Assistance Network (NEKASAN) has been helping those who flee their home countries due to violence and fear and enter the United States.

“We welcome people and families who have fled violence and probable death by their government,” said NEKASAN co-founder Libby Hillhouse of Danville during the meeting. “To a person, they have endured extreme trauma and seek only safety and the possibility of a secure future.” …

NEKASAN is a founding member of the Vermont-New Hampshire Asylum Support Network (VTNHASN). This network is comprised of 9 community-based asylum support groups in Vt & NH who work together to foster collaboration, share best practices, build capacity, raise public awareness of the issues involved in seeking asylum , and advocate for policies and funding that support our collective work and the asylum seekers with whom we work.

Check out the network website at https://vtasylumsupport.org/ and find:

The resources page to answer many of your questions about working with asylum seekers
The advocacy page to help you find contact information for your elected state and federal officials
Our members and partners contact information
Ways to volunteer and support our work locally