Long & Foster Real Estate congratulates Realtor Lily Cameron for her efforts to support refugee resettlement efforts in Richmond, Virginia. Cameron is a sales agent in Long & Foster’s Strawberry Street office in Richmond and has been assisting with efforts to aid families seeking refuge from the crisis in Afghanistan and the current war in Ukraine.

Cameron has been a champion of families who have been forced to leave their homeland in fear of their lives.

“Some of these people’s lives were in danger and were forced to leave their countries of origin,” said Cameron. “Those who are fortunate enough to make it to the United States face a whole host of challenges – language barriers, housing needs, transportation, job security, and more. They are however immensely grateful to have found a safe haven in Richmond where they have hope again through the American Dream.”

Cameron has connected with organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC), and ReEstablish Richmond that help with these refugee resettlement efforts. Other refugees rely on the goodness of people at churches, mosques, and in the general community. The IRC will typically find a home for refugee families and pay their rent for three to six months. The hope is that within this time they can find jobs and get hooked into the community by gaining the support of people who can help them navigate life – especially since they typically don’t speak English.

She has also enlisted the assistance of other area Realtors. One such person is Long & Foster Realtor Beth Goldsmith, a long-time agent with the Grove Avenue Sales Office, and who has been in real estate for more than thirty years. Goldsmith accepted an IRC refugee family into one of her rental homes. She and her husband took this family under their wing and helped them navigate their new life, including helping to enroll their kids in school, helping them manage their bills and more.

This family was then enrolled in an English class held at First Baptist Church Ashland in Ashland, Virginia that was started by Cameron. With volunteers from First Baptist Church Ashland and Ashland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 10 refugee families were able to start to learn English. Cameron speaks Farsi and recruited fellow Long & Foster Strawberry Street Realtor Rose Maghdouri, who also speaks Farsi, to help with these classes. Another Long & Foster Agent at the Virginia Properties office, Julia Morrison, has been coordinating furniture and basic home supplies allocations with Commonwealth Catholic Charities. Her efforts included enlisting the support of agents in her office by reaching out to their client base for donations.

Cameron continues to seek the assistance of Realtors and landlords who are willing to help in these efforts. They need help finding affordable housing, creative financing solutions, and access to public transportation routes. More offices can get involved by holding drives for blankets, clothes, toiletries and other items that are being given to refugees through Cameron’s work at Ashland Christian Church.

There are so many refugee families in need, and Realtors serve a vital part in being a beacon of hope and guidance to so many of these families. Cameron can be reached at 804-305-2322 or by emailing her at lily.cameron@longandfoster.com.

Long & Foster Real Estate is the nation’s No. 1 real estate company as part of HomeServices of America.