WORCESTER, Mass. - Local organizations hosted a legal clinic in Worcester on Saturday to help Haitian families apply or renew their Temporary Protected Status.

The African Community Education and Friendly House partnered to host the event where dozens of volunteers, translators and immigration lawyers worked to assist new arrivals.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded TPS eligibility to include Haitians who have been in the country since June 3 of this year because conditions in the strife-torn Caribbean nation are considered unsafe for them to return, according to the Homeland Security Department.

Now, local entities and volunteers are helping those who are new to the Worcester area.

“What's been interesting to me is that Worcester has just always been such a welcoming community and continues,” Friendly House Office of New Americans program director, Jillian Phillips, said. “And as soon as we heard that the TPS had been granted, we were on a phone call, within a couple of hours we had this clinic set up.”

“One piece of the documentation that's getting filled out today or completed as needed is work permits at a time when we are facing a workforce shortage and crisis in every single industry, we are fortunate that every single day new members are choosing to live in this community and be part of this community,” Sen. Robyn Kennedy said. “And this is about helping, making sure that they have all the right documentation that they need so that they can legally be present in our community and be working.”

Nationally, the "Temporary Protected Status" expansion helps about 300,000 Haitians already in the United States to live and work here.

The first Worcester TPS clinic welcomed more than 150 people and another clinic is set for August.