Afghan refugee fund launches

Several local advocacy groups are teaming up to raise money for Afghan refugees heading to Nashville.

• At-large council member Zulfat Suara told reporters a new fundraising effort will give refugees "the resources and support that they need to transition into their new home."

Why it matters: More than 300 evacuees from Afghanistan are expected to settle in the Nashville area, according to the United Way of Middle Tennessee.

• They join a broader community of refugees, including members of the city's large Kurdish population.
• The Welcoming Nashville Fund will go toward resettlement needs, including trauma counseling, help with housing and groceries.

The details: Advocates have set a fundraising goal of $300,000.

• They stressed while speaking with reporters Wednesday the fact that resettlement takes place on an incredibly tight timeline. Agencies might only have a few days to secure housing, furniture and food for new arrivals.
• Existing government aid for resettlement agencies often is not enough to pay for those early basics.
• The United Way of Greater Nashville, Catholic Charities Diocese of Nashville, the Nashville International Center for Empowerment, and the American Muslim Advisory Council are part of the effort.

What's next: Multiple groups said some Afghan refugees had already started to arrive in Nashville, with more expected in the coming weeks.