Hochul: Website with resources for Ukrainian people & allies in NY

Resources include support services, immigration assistance, emotional support, humanitarian aid and information on ways to show support

√ Visit the website here

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the launch of a new website containing resources offered by New York state and its partners to help Ukrainian people and their friends and allies here in New York. This follows the governor's announcement warning consumers about scams and cybersecurity threats amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In an additional show of support, the governor also announced the Ukrainian flag would be flown on the Capitol building, the executive mansion, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services headquarters.

Hochul said, "In moments like these, New Yorkers always stand together to support those in need. We are proud to provide trusted resources for those who want to lend a helping hand for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters here in New York."

This directive comes amid Hochul's ongoing efforts to support Ukraine. Last week, the governor announced an executive order to prohibit state agencies and authorities from contracting with entities that continue to do business in Russia. In early March, Hochul announced actions to strengthen the Department of Financial Services' (DFS) enforcement of sanctions against Russia, including the expedited procurement of additional blockchain analytics technology. In February, Hochul ordered all state agencies and authorities to divest public funds from Russia and stop doing business with Russian companies.

Resources available on the website include:

Support Services

The Office for New Americans (ONA) provides a variety of free support services to all immigrants and refugees in New York, 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 of New Americans website here or call the hotline at 1-800-566-7636. The NYS New Americans Hotline connects immigrants and refugees to free services across the state. The Hotline operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays, except holidays. All calls are confidential. Assistance is available in over 200 languages, including Ukrainian and Russian.

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 can 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. You can also visit the Ukraine crisis page on the State Department's website here.

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.

Immigration 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 U.S. since March 1, 2022. Ukrainians eligible for TPS can contact the NYS new Americans hotline for free legal assistance at 1-800-566-7636.

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.

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

√ Finding employment

√ Free health screening and immunizations

√ Accessing other support services

Find a provider in your area here and learn more about refugee services and assistance for immigrants here.

Emotional Support

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-plus languages via third-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 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.

Humanitarian Aid

Avoid 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 emails from "victims," and solicitors who employ heart-wrenching stories – insisting you donate immediately. Do not 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 here.

The division's consumer assistance hotline is open weekdays, excluding state holidays, at 1-800-697-1220. Find more information and tips by following the DCP on social media on Twitter (@NYSConsumer) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nysconsumer).

Show Your Support

Show your support through the use of New York-branded social media graphics for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Instagram Story. You can also spread the word about how to show support to the humanitarian response through the social media toolkit here.