A Buffalo Peace House Retrospective

We began with a dream, as all great things must! Forming a support base and becoming a 501c3 were among our first challenges. Of course, finding a site was a major hurdle; it required tenacity and much teamwork. NIMBY is hard to overcome, specifically regarding asylum seekers.   

Not then and not now has our mission been popular. We’re the nagging conscience that many want to go away. Too few share our belief that there needs to be a Peace House in every community. We are warmly welcoming, we offer safe and clean housing, we assist in finding legal services and access to medical care. We meet needs and offer services that the government does not. We’re an example of how individuals working together can address a real need in our community.

With our faithful supporters we’ve opened our doors to wave after wave of those who arrive here with nothing. Our asylees believe they’ve reached the promised land when we greet them. Realistically, they have only taken the first step on the next leg of their journey through a legal briar patch with many obstacles yet to overcome. The fact that well over ninety percent of our residents eventually gain legal status can be classified as miraculous.

Our former residents graduate to jobs, find affordable housing where they can, and dream the American dream as many of our grandparents did. They give thanks in this season as we do. They celebrate Christmas and they try to emulate our gift giving. Things aren’t easy, but each has a dream – with which all great things must begin.