New York State Stands with Ukraine: Resources for Ukrainians and How New Yorkers Can Help

New York State is proudly home to the largest Ukrainian population in the United States, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia's unjustified and unprovoked attack.

This web page lists resources offered by New York State and our partners to help the Ukrainian people and their friends and allies here in New York.

The Office for New Americans (ONA)

The ONA provides a variety of free support services to all immigrants and refugees in New York State, regardless of status, such as:

• Access to free legal support including asylum applications and deportation defense through its network of legal service providers
• English language courses through its network of Opportunity Centers
• Access to mental health support groups through its Golden Door Program
• Workforce readiness tools including resume writing, digital literacy skills, and credentialing evaluation
• Support to access developmental disability services through the ONA Ramirez June Initiative

Visit the Office for New Americans website.

New Americans Hotline

Call 1-800-566-7636 for assistance.

The NYS New Americans Hotline connects immigrants and refugees to free services across the state. The Hotline operates from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. All calls are confidential. Assistance is available in over 200 languages, including Ukrainian and Russian.

Information for U.S. Citizens in Ukraine from the U.S. State Department

If you are a U.S. citizen in Ukraine, the U.S. State Department has resources for those wishing to depart. They also offer travel conditions and land border guidance for surrounding countries including Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova.

U.S. citizens in Ukraine should complete this online form so that the State Department can communicate with you. U.S. citizens seeking to depart Ukraine can also call 1-833-741-2777 (in the United States) or 1-606-260-4379 (from overseas) for immediate assistance.

Visit the Ukraine Crisis page on the State Department’s website.

The Consulate General of Ukraine in New York (USA)

The Consulate General of Ukraine in New York is currently providing consular services. However, all consular services which require receiving documents from Ukraine, including issuance of new passports and visa services, have been suspended until further notice.

If you have visa or passport questions, you can contact the Consulate General by emailing [email protected] or calling either 212-371-6965 or 212-371-5690.

Ukrainians in New York and who are experiencing an emergency situation (e.g. detention), can call the Consulate’s hotline number at 917-325-1444 for assistance.

Protections may be available for eligible Ukrainians already present in the U.S. As a result of the Russian military invasion, the Department of Homeland Security announced the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18 months. Individuals eligible for TPS under this designation must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Ukrainians eligible for TPS can contact the NYS New Americans Hotline for free legal assistance at 1-800-566-7636.

In addition to free legal services and direct representation, the NYS Office for New Americans (ONA) provides free and confidential services to all immigrants in New York State including:

• Naturalization support and civics test preparation
• Informational community workshops and seminars
• Mobile English Language Learning

If you have recently been granted asylum, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, through contracted providers, offers free services to asylees across New York State.

Visit a provider in your area that can assist you with:

• Finding employment
• Free health screening and immunizations
• Accessing other support services

Learn more about refugee services and assistance for immigrants.

Local Guide to Welcoming Resources: New York and New Jersey

Welcoming.US has created a toolkit with resources and information for the New York/ Newark area to support Ukrainian arrivals and their sponsors, available here.

ONA Webinar: National, State and Local Resources to Assist Ukrainian Arrivals to New York State and Their Sponsors

On August 12, 2022, the NYS Office for New Americans hosted a webinar on the topic of “National, State and Local Resources to Assist Ukrainian Arrivals to New York State and Their Sponsors.” This webinar featured presenters and resources from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Welcome.US, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and New York Immigration Coalition. To access a link to the recording, please visit: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/ldr.php?RCID=eb061a29b7edbf726fc2109f842d1e30

If you need 24-Hour Phone Support: You can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 1-800-985-5990. Callers can connect with counselors for support in 100+ languages via 3rd party interpretation, including in Ukrainian and Russian.

If you need a 24-hour Crisis Text Line: Text GOT5 to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.

For 24-Hour Support for Deaf or hard of hearing American Sign Language users: The national Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is now offering direct crisis counseling and support for Deaf or hard of hearing American Sign Language users via a dedicated videophone option. Disaster survivors and responders can connect with trained DDH crisis workers fluent in ASL by dialing 1-800-985-5990 from a videophone-enabled device or via an “ASL Now” link which can be accessed at DisasterDistress.samhsa.gov.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Hotline

People—primarily women—arriving from war-torn countries are more often victims of domestic and sexual violence. The trauma associated with war can make it particularly difficult for survivors to seek help, but you are not alone.

New York State has a 24 hour crisis hotline for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. If your partner hurts or controls you, or you are unsafe in your relationship, you can contact the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-942-6906, texting 1-844-997-2121, or chatting online at opdv.ny.gov. Callers can connect with advocates for confidential support in most languages, including Ukrainian and Russian.

Find more information about resources for survivors.

NYC Care

NYC Care is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance. It is available regardless of your immigration status or ability to pay. All NYC Care services are provided through NYC Health + Hospitals. With NYC Care, you can get a unique membership card to access health services, choose your own doctor, and get affordable medications.

Learn more about NYC Care by visiting NYCCare.NYC or by calling 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273).

Support the Humanitarian Response in Ukraine

USAID – Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI)

USAID is ramping up humanitarian assistance to help people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States is one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, providing nearly $405 million to help vulnerable communities across the country.

Learn more about the emergency in Ukraine and find federally vetted links to non-governmental organizations active in the Ukraine Humanitarian Aid response.

U.S. Department of State’s Ukraine Humanitarian Fund

The Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships has established a public-private partnership to direct funds to organizations that are helping to address the humanitarian needs of those impacted by the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine. This partnership is designed to mobilize private-sector donations and individual giving to support relief organizations aiding those impacted by Russia’s actions.

Learn more about the fund.

Avoiding Donation Scams

Anytime disasters occur, scam artists prey on the heartstrings of individuals looking to help. The invasion of Ukraine provides an opportunity for fraudsters to set up fake charities or pose as compelling war victims. Others design websites to mimic a legitimate charity’s official site to steal unsuspecting donors' money and/or personal information.

To prevent donation money from falling into the wrong hands, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection recommends taking the following precautions:

• Verify the request. Scammers are more frequently posing as friends, family or romantic interests on social media and requesting donations. If you receive an unsolicited request for donation relief online, even if it appears to be someone you know, connect with the person directly through a different communication link to verify the request. Do not click on any links or complete forms before verifying the source. If the request is coming from someone you only recently met online, it is most likely a scam and you should be especially wary.
• Research the charity. Don’t rely on a charity website alone. Search online before donating to any charity using the name of the group plus search terms like “review” and “scam”. The Federal Trade Commission recommends checking with give.org, charitynavigator.org, charitywatch.org, or candid.org to see reports and ratings for charities. You can also check with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for verification that a charity is registered. The Office of the Attorney General also recommends reviewing the Charities Registry for financial reports prior to donating to ensure the charity is fiscally sound.
• Resist high-pressure tactics. While the situation is urgent, consumers should resist being pressured to donate immediately. Scammers often pressure you to donate immediately, causing you to overlook red flags in their story. Beware of direct e-mails from “victims” and solicitors who employ heart-wrenching stories, insisting that you donate immediately. Do not to give money over the phone to unsolicited telemarketers; instead, ask the caller to send written materials about the charity and where to donate, if you choose.
• Keep personal information private. Never give your Social Security number, credit card or debit card number, or other personal identifying information in response to an unsolicited charitable request. If donating online, ensure that your internet connection is secure before following through on donation requests.
• Ask how your money will be spent. Consumers want to know that their money is going directly to the victims. A genuine charity should be able to let you know how much of your donation will go directly to the program as opposed to administrative fees.
• Donate by check or credit card. Never give money using cash, gift cards, crypto currency, or any tender that would be difficult to trace. Give your contribution by check or credit card to ensure that you have a record of the donation. Make checks out to the charity, not to an individual. If you choose to donate via a charity's website, check that the website is secure and that your computer is equipped with the latest anti-virus protection.

If you suspect that you have encountered a fraudulent attempt to receive donations, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/file-consumer-complaint.

The Division’s Consumer Assistance Hotline is open Monday to Friday, excluding State holidays, 8:30am to 4:30pm at 1-800-697-1220. You can find more information and tips by following the Division of Consumer Protection on social media on Twitter (@NYSConsumer) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/nysconsumer).

Use these New York-branded social media graphics to show your support for Ukraine.

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Ukraine Social Media Toolkit from USAID

Spread the word about how to support the humanitarian response in Ukraine.