Hello Neighbor, the hope of a new life for immigrants in Pittsburgh

La Prensa
Publicado 23 de julio de 2025 a las 10:31 AM

In these difficult times being experienced in the United States, Hello Neighbor, a non-profit organization, has become one of the hopes for immigrants arriving in the city of Pittsburgh from various countries around the world. Their intense work is marked by values such as dignity, high intercultural sensitivity, and the necessary logistical support for new neighbors to rebuild their lives and achieve their dreams.

Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, among others, are Latin American countries from which immigrants come in search of preserving their lives and starting anew.

Although this population group in this region of the United States is small, there has been a gradual increase in recent years, confirms Sloane Davidson, founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor, an organization whose mission started in June 2017 with 25 refugee families and 25 local families participating in individual mentoring.

Among the highlighted values of Hello Neighbor is protecting the privacy and dignity of refugee families by sharing their stories respectfully. ‘We strive to be aware and sensitive to the experiences and traumas that these stories may represent,’ the organization states on its website www.helloneighbor.io.

Davidson briefly addresses the scenario of Hello Neighbor after President Donald Trump arrived at the White House in his non-consecutive second term, marked by a more aggressive immigration policy, primarily against the Hispanic community.

LA PRENSA: What is the current situation of Hello Neighbor in the financial, administrative, and personnel areas to attend to immigrants?

“Hello Neighbor remains strong and deeply committed to serving immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers across Western Pennsylvania. Like many nonprofits in this sector, we’ve had to navigate a rapidly shifting funding and policy landscape. Earlier this year, we experienced a temporary budget shortfall due to federal contract delays and funding uncertainty. In response, we made the difficult but strategic decision to reduce hours for some staff and temporarily pause a few programs to ensure long-term sustainability. I’m proud to say that since then, we’ve stabilized financially, rehired furloughed team members, and are now in a position to thoughtfully grow again. Our  team has worked diligently to strengthen our internal systems, and our program staff – over 50% of whom have lived migration experience – continue to lead with dedication and care”.

LP: Of the total number of immigrants received, how many are from Latin America and from which countries?

“We’ve seen a steady increase in Latin American arrivals over the past two years. While the exact number fluctuates based on resettlement and border trends, we estimate that roughly 20% of the individuals we support are from Latin America. The most represented countries include Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Many arrive through humanitarian parole or asylum processes and face unique barriers that we are working hard to address”.

LP: What is the type of assistance that Hello Neighbor provides to the immigrants it receives?

“Hello Neighbor offers a wide range of holistic, wraparound services. These include resettlement support, legal services, workforce development, English language learning, and health and wellness programming. We also operate high-impact community-based initiatives like our Smart Start program for new and expecting moms, our Study Buddy tutoring program for school-aged children, and our Mentorship program that pairs refugee families with local Pittsburghers. Everything we do is grounded in trust, relationships, and community-building”.

LP: Does Hello Neighbor contemplate closing at some point, or will it continue despite adversity?

“We are here to stay. Hello Neighbor was born from a deep personal commitment to welcoming newcomers and has grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit because of our ability to adapt, collaborate, and lead through adversity. While the road is never easy, especially in our sector, we have no intention of closing. In fact, we are actively investing in our team, exploring new partnerships, and planning for long-term impact”.

LP: Do you know if other agencies have closed their offices in Pittsburgh, and what does that imply?

“Yes, we’re aware that a few agencies have scaled back or closed programs in recent years due to shifting federal priorities or funding constraints. When that happens, the need doesn’t go away—it just becomes more urgent for the remaining organizations to step up. It puts added pressure on groups like Hello Neighbor, but it also reinforces how vital our work is. We are proud to fill in those gaps and advocate for more coordinated, well-funded services for all immigrants and refugees in our region”.

A simple gesture of welcome turned into Hello Neighbor

In 2016, Hello Neighbor started with a simple gesture of welcome. Sloane Davison, the founder and CEO of the organization, had recently moved to Pittsburgh with her husband and was pregnant for the first time. Inspired by the desire to connect more deeply with her community and motivated to support new neighbors in light of the growing anti-refugee and immigrant sentiment following the 2016 presidential elections, she reached out to a recently resettled Syrian family and invited them to share Thanksgiving dinner.

That meal sparked an idea: what if every newly resettled refugee family had a neighbor to welcome them? Someone to answer their questions, help them adjust to a new culture, and offer support during one of life’s most vulnerable transitions.

The pilot program started in Pittsburgh in June 2017 with 25 refugee families and 25 local families participating in individual mentoring. The goal was simple yet powerful: to connect across differences. By practicing English, sharing meals, and exploring Pittsburgh, trust was built, resulting in immediate mutual impact. Since that first year, Hello Neighbor has grown in response to the direct needs of the communities it serves. It now offers an interconnected network of programs that support refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers from their arrival to their integration.

«What has not changed is our belief in the power of kindness and authentic human connection. Hello Neighbor was founded with the idea that welcoming is not just about policies, but about people. By being present for our neighbors, we create stronger and more vibrant communities for everyone,» states the organization on its website.