This morning I woke up ready to go meet my friend Helma from Somalia to take her to the apartments at Red Oak, Chickasaw. Many new refugees are poorer and need housing assistance for a period of time to help them successfully resettle. Most of my friends do not seem to “want” to stay forever in these apartments. They want to educate themselves, find jobs, build families and give back to their communities. From what I understand, the Chickasaw Apartments are apartments available from the government for those struggling to pay for housing. The rent amount each month is based on the tenants income. This type of financial assistance for housing is very helpful for new refugees.

In Memphis, finding good housing that is cheap enough for refugees to afford is a constant struggle. The apartments and rental houses that refugees typically live in upon arrival are pretty shabby if you ask me. They are often infested with bugs, growing mildew, dirty, too expensive and located in areas of Memphis that are not considered the safest. The bug infestation is a hard problem to solve as some refugee families have not learned the importance of picking up after themselves and maintaining a clean apartment. When one apartment has an issue of bugs, it seems that all of the apartments next to or around that apartment are also affected by the bugs. Cleanliness is something that Asha’s Refuge plans to teach and communicate to refugees. Refugees born in poverty, typically lived in refugee camps where clean water and cleaning supplies aren’t available. They often had to live in makeshift tents set up on the dirt. They did not grow up with the training of doing household chores; therefore, some have a difficult time with understanding this concept here in America. Most American children are taught from a very young age to throw things in the trash and to help keep things clean around the home. This is a learned habit not an instinct.

Many apartments in Memphis are run down and owned by owners who do not seem to want to keep up with their property. The city seems to be aware of bad owners and landlords but unable to take better control of the situation so that it doesn’t affect the poor as much it does.

Like many other big cities, the city of Memphis already has a difficult time providing adequate housing for its existing poor families. Bringing individuals in from other countries that are in desperate need for housing assistance makes the need even greater. If there is not enough housing for the citizens already in a city, why would the State Department feel that it would be a good idea to bring more people into the city who are desperate for homes? This is a question many people who are working with refugees (and those who hear about the refugee housing situation) often wonder. Some citizens can become quite angry about the fact that foreigners are coming into the States, fighting for and receiving benefits of which citizens often struggle to get. It is my belief, that there is more to this situation than the average person looking from the outside in can really see.

The US State Department, US Department of Homeland Security and US Department of Health and Human Services produces an annual report to the Congress, “The Proposed Refugee Admissions Report”, that seems to recognize some of the issues concerning the need for better housing for refugees. The 2011 report to the Congress, which is submitted on behalf of the President of the United States, the Committees on the Judiciary United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives (in fulfillment of section 207 (d) (1) and (e) (1-7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act) is apparently a public record and is made available for all to see online at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/148671.pdf. The information contained in this report is extremely informative to those trying to understand the refugee resettlement process and how our United States Government and the United Nations works together to help those the United Nations says “are from the most desperate populations and find themselves in seemingly forgotten locations”. My face to face ground work with my refugee friends has shown me, however, that there are still gaps in the system. The 2011 report to the Congress realizes this too as it states:

“While there have been many positive developments in the overseas aspects of the USRAP, refugees as well as persons and entities assisting them continue to face significant challenges in addressing the needs of refugees after their arrival in the United States. Consequently, the White House has led an interagency process to develop solutions to these issues, which has also involved consultations with stakeholders from outside the federal government.”

Page IV of the report goes on to say:

“One substantial change made as a result of this process was a dramatic increase in the one-time per capita Reception and Placement grant administered by the Department of State for the initial weeks after a refugee’s arrival. This grant had declined in real terms by more than 50 percent since its inception in 1975. In light of our critical obligations to newly arrived refugees, and thanks to the generous support from the Congress, we were able to increase the Reception and Placement per capita grant from $900 to $1,800, effective January 1, 2010. This is intended to address challenges refugees face in their first 30 to 90 days in the United States, and will ensure that, in the first weeks after their arrival, refugees have a solid roof over their heads, a clean bed in which to sleep, and basic assistance. This is also an expression of solidarity with state and local officials and with the local communities that bear the greatest burden in meeting the initial needs of new arrivals.”

“In addition, the Administration has requested an extra $25 million in its FY 2011 budget request for the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Department of Health and Human Services to enhance case management services for refugees and address their emergency housing needs. Furthermore, the administration has adopted a number of other changes to the program, including regular interagency meetings led by National Security staff, more frequent consultations with external stakeholders, the provision to local agencies of more complete information about cases before they arrive, and greater attention to the health care needs of refugees after arrival. The overall goal is for all parties involved – be they at the federal, state, or local level, and from both the public and private sectors – to more effectively meet the needs of resettled refugees. Such enhanced coordination and communication is particularly needed in light of the changed – and more diverse – character of the program. The Administration will continue to explore ways of ensuring that refugees are able to integrate successfully in the United States after their arrival.”

Though this report seems to support the fact that our Congress is aware of and understands local difficulties with refugee resettlement, I feel that the appropriate actions and responses by our government on the ground with a number of vulnerable refugee’s is not happening. There are clearly additional gaps to be filled. Many refugees who are single parents, have disabilities, speak no english, have no education and/or have multiple children simply need longer assistance than the 90-180 days (up to six months) allotted by our government once they have arrive to their destination resettlement city. Asha’s Refuge is a nonprofit startup organization that wants to find ways to help. (See my post entitled, “It’s Not Just ESL” for ways Asha’s Refuge plans to get involved by offering various types assistance to disadvantaged or vulnerable refugees.)

As far as housing goes, the 2011 Proposed Refugee Admissions Report to the Congress doesn’t seem to offer many solutions. There is an awareness but not enough funds available to local communities to offer better housing. I’ve been working along side of a gentleman named Steve with Christ Community Health Services regarding the Memphis area refugees for about 2 years now. CCHS is a Christian healthcare organization that focuses on fulfilling the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the poor, homeless and uninsurable since 1995. I believe Steve has been involved with CCHS for about 3 years. I’m pretty sure his focus is on helping refugees. Steve has been a wonderful and trusting friend to work along side of. It is he, who seems to have committed to speaking up about the housing needs for refugees. I believe it will be my friend, Steve, and CCHS that will be largely responsible for getting better housing for my friends from other countries. Asha’s Refuge hopes to partner with community housing organizations, Steve and CCHS in support of better homes for refugees.