Three weeks ago we told you (here) that Boise, Idaho had joined the growing list of cities with a refugee poverty crisis. Here then is a portion of the response from leaders in the refugee resettlement industry.
From the Idaho Statesman:
Up until recently, the Idaho resettlement program has been highly effective in helping refugees to become self-sufficient; refugees have traditionally become employed within the first eight months of arriving and refugee children have integrated into our public school system. Many refugees have purchased homes, started businesses that create employment opportunities for themselves and others, and sent their children to college. [Readers should know that there is a whole branch of the refugee industry that makes available special loans and savings programs for refugees for purchasing homes, businesses, cars and higher education not available to American poor—ed]
Even in this time of economic recession, most refugees find work and a degree of economic security and make significant positive contributions to our community. But those who do not achieve early independence have become the face of poverty.
The challenges they face regarding employment, housing, financial assistance, health care and mental health services are the same ones faced by vulnerable Americans who are victims of domestic violence, have disabilities or have lost their jobs and are facing homelessness.
Refugees who are struggling make up a small percentage of people in our community who are living in poverty, and it is critical to improve economic opportunities and provide a safety net for all our citizens.
All social service programs have limitations. The Idaho Office for Refugees and local resettlement agencies are working together with many other community members and organizations to address the limitations. We also are working together to affect how our community addresses poverty on a larger scale.
In the meantime, the compassionate individuals who work and volunteer with resettlement agencies are putting significant energy into creative job searches and raising private funds to prevent homelessness among their clients.
Raising private funds is something they were supposed to be doing anyway as part of the public-private partnership they agreed to when becoming federal contractors. As for creative job searches aren’t there about 5 million Americans doing the same thing?