Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) is a volunteer-led initiative, founded in December 2015, as a result of collective community reaction to the global refugee crisis. IWR works to foster a welcoming and fair environment for refugees and at-risk immigrants in our region. Services and activities are designed to continue the development of Ithaca as a welcoming host community. These include apartment set up and basic needs support, cultural and community orientation, financial assistance for resettlement and emergency support, education for the community on refugee and immigrant issues, fundraising, and training for volunteers. In addition to ongoing activities, IWR is actively working on the development of long-term programming to address gaps in local community services, with the goal of reducing existing barriers to the integration and empowerment of refugees and at-risk immigrants. Ithaca Welcomes Refugees is a proud member of Welcoming America.