About Buffalo Peace House

A safe haven for local asylum seekers to heal and rebuild their lives.

If you or someone you know is seeking asylum in the United States, call Buffalo Peace House at (716) 627-9800.

Icon of a telephone receiver inside a blue circle.
A porch with wooden flooring, a black rocking chair with a patterned pillow, a round table with a pink hydrangea plant, and a large potted fern. There are large windows with black frames, part of a house with beige siding. A door mat reads 'WELCOME' and the sky is clear with green trees visible in the background.

A place to call home while rebuilding a life

Founded in 2009 by Mary Callahan, Buffalo Peace House began with a simple belief: people seeking safety in the United States deserve a welcoming place to call home while navigating the asylum process. For more than 15 years, BPH has welcomed individuals and families from around the world, providing safe housing, food and services. Today the mission continues. We walk along side our families as they navigate the lengthy legal process, find employment, access essential services and work toward independence—offering not simply a place to stay but a place to belong.

SINCE 2009

World map highlighting countries with a focus on Mexico and countries around the Pacific Ocean in light blue.

Welcoming asylum seekers from over 65 countries

    • Brazil

    • Chile

    • Costa Rica

    • Cuba

    • El Salvador

    • Guatemala

    • Haiti

    • Honduras

    • Jamaica

    • Mexico

    • Nicaragua

    • Paraguay

    • Peru

    • Puerto Rico

    • Venezuela

    • Afghanistan

    • Angola

    • Burkina Faso

    • Burundi

    • Cameroon

    • Central African Republic

    • Chad

    • Democratic Republic of the Congo

    • Djibouti

    • Equatorial Guinea

    • Eritrea

    • Ethiopia

    • Gabon

    • Gambia

    • Ghana

    • Guinea

    • Guinea-Bissau

    • Iran

    • Iraq

    • Ivory Coast

    • Jordan

    • Kenya

    • Lebanon

    • Liberia

    • Libya

    • Malawi

    • Nigeria

    • Rwanda

    • Senegal

    • Sierra Leone

    • Somalia

    • South Sudan

    • Sudan

    • Syria

    • Togo

    • Uganda

    • Palestine

    • Yemen

    • Zambia

    • Zimbabwe

    • Bangladesh

    • Indonesia

    • Malaysia

    • Myanmar

    • North Korea

    • South Korea

    • Pakistan

    • Philippines

“Thank you, Buffalo Peace House, for being a beacon of hope, for planting compassion where others plant fear, and for reminding us that we are not alone on this journey.”

Buffalo Peace House Resident

Buffalo Peace House Staff

Our Board of Directors

  • Eileen O’Brien-Scannell

    President, Board Chair

    Learning Triangle Labs LLC

  • John Ipe

    Vice Chair, IT Committee Chair

    Information Technology

  • Michelle Benczkowski

    Secretary, Development Committee Chair

    Marketing
    Moog, Inc.

  • Eileen M. Charleton

    Board Member, Development Committee

    Retired

  • Tori Claflin Siegner

    Board Member, Development Committee

    Fundraiser

  • Mary Dunbar

    Finance Committee

    Sales & Operations Planning
    New Era Cap

  • Ahmed Elnaw

    Finance Committee

    M&T Bank

  • Jason Lang

    Finance Committee

    Owner
    ArbCorp LLC

  • James Sampson

    Governance Committee

    Retired

  • John Scannell

    Treasurer

    Retired CEO
    Moog, Inc.

  • Michael Silverstein

    Governance Committee Chair

    Vice President
    The Blair Law Group

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

See the Impact of Buffalo Peace House

Our annual reports and newsletters share stories, milestones, and community support that make our work possible. Learn more about the people we serve, the progress we’ve made, and the ways our community helps asylum seekers build safe and hopeful futures in Buffalo.

ANNUAL REPORTS

Click each link to download a PDF

2025 Annual Report

2024 Annual Report

PAST NEWSLETTERS

Click each link to download a PDF

Fall 2025 Newsletter

Fall 2024 Newsletter