Las Vegas City Wire

Nevada State College is housing three Afghan families this semester to help resettle the refugees looking to escape the Taliban. The college is assisting the African Community Center, which has long history of resettling refugees, but is having difficulty housing families.

"We have been doing this work since 2003 and, since then, we have resettled over 4,000 refugees from all over the world through the African Community Center, so the fact that we are able to assist with this need, is what our mission is all about," Milan Devetak, director of the African Community Center told KNTV.

Nevada State College worked with Clark County to secure a $60,000 federal grant for the resettlement of refugee families, according to the Fox5 News.  It’s a mission the college gives a high level of importance.

Deronne Pollard, president of Nevada State College, told Fox5 the school "will continue to open their door to Afghan families and live out their mission to make their campus a safe haven for all."

Among those applauding the endeavor is Nevada Gov. Steve Siolak. The governor’s Office for New Americans secured federal funding through Clark County, KNTV reported.

"Thanks to this new initiative, Afghan families will be temporarily housed in @NevadaState student housing facilities, while permanent housing is secured," Sisolak tweeted Jan. 14. "This state, local, & community partnership is a testament to Nevada's commitment to continue to be a welcoming state for all."

Pollard asked students returning for the semester to give the refugee families their privacy during this time of transition in their life.  

"They want to be part of our economy, how can we not support them," Pollard said on Fox5 News.