Welcoming Refugees

To Our Community

Jewish Family & Children’s Service Northern Area Multi-Service Center

Today’s Agenda Refugee & resettlement basics (Leslie)  Refugee housing guidelines (Taylor)  Benefits of renting to refugees (Leslie)  Challenges (Taylor)  Landlord experience (Leslie)  Refugee tenant experience (Taylor)  Q&A 

Who We Are Jewish

Family & Children’s Service

Northern

Area Multi-Service Center

Refugee & Resettlement Basics

Connecting to Our Own Immigrant Past 

Why our families are here? – Economic opportunities – Educational opportunities – Religious freedom – Forced migration – Escape unsafe homeland = REFUGEE

Who is a Refugee? 

Person outside his/her country of nationality

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Has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group (United Nations High Commission on Refugees)

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Is unable or unwilling to return home

Immigrant vs. refugee Immigrant definition  Refugees are subset of immigrants  Not all immigrants are refugees 

Typical refugee journey to U.S. Flee homeland: DANGER  Register as refugee with United Nations  Wait & wait for return home  If option, referral to U.S. program  Persecution claim made  Security: 13-step multi-organizational  Overseas cultural orientation  Travel to U.S. (repay travel loan) 

Worldwide number of refugees 

Now estimated at 20-25 MILLION who have fled country of origin! – Highest since World War II

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Another 40 million FORCIBLY displaced internally

Where do refugees want to be? 

First choice: Voluntary Home Country Repatriation

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Secondary Country Integration

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THIRD COUNTRY RESETTLEMENT Less than 1%

United States Resettlement Numbers FY 2014: 70,000  FY 2015 : 85,000*  FY 2016 proposed: 100,000* 

*Newly proposed due to Syrian crisis

U.S. Resettlement Mission Humanitarian: Save Lives  Who decides who comes: 

– President & Cabinet 

Factors: – Danger – Time in camps – Possibility of return

Reminder: Refugee are 100% legal Live & work indefinitely in U.S.  Access to all public benefits  Eligible for citizenship at 5 years 

Refugees arriving to Pittsburgh now

Bhutanese: Where is Bhutan?

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20 Years in Refugee Camps

Congolese Refugees:

Congolese Refugees

Syrian Refugee: Camps

Domestic Process: Who Goes Where? 9 National Agencies  ~350 Total Local Affiliates  Family Ties  Local capacity 

Pittsburgh Resettlement Agencies 

Northern Area Multi-Service Center: 250 individuals or ~ 60 families

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Jewish Family & Children’s Service: 230 individuals or ~ 55 families

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AJAPO:120 individuals or ~ 30 families

Resettlement Activities Pre-Arrival = HOUSING  Financial Package disbursement  Hands on connection to services  Cultural orientation  Employment  Path to Citizenship 

One-Time Financial Package 

About $1,000 per capita: – Rent & security deposit (3-4 months) – Furniture – Household supplies – Bus tickets – Cell phone – Pocket money

Post-Arrival Income 

Temporary cash assistance

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Intensive employment services – “survival” jobs by 3-4 months postarrival

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Disability applications, if applicable

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Social security income for elders

Early Resettlement Success Refugees safe in their homes  Children in school  Medical needs met  Adult(s) working  Disabled/seniors connected to services 

Refugee Housing

Refugee Housing Guidelines 

Safe and friendly neighborhood

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Affordable

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Property in good condition – all utilities turned on / appliances in good repair

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Close to public transportation (less than 15 min walk)

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Local amenities: grocery store and laundry

Notification of Refugee Arrival 

1.5 – 3 weeks notice

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Immediate move-in

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Prepare house before family’s / individual’s arrival – Furnish apartment – Purchase groceries and first hot meal

Refugee Housing Guidelines: Refugee community: 8 – 10 families to be resettled near each other  House vs. Apartment 

– Utilities – Special conditions • Elderly / disabled family member • Family size and composition

– Yard maintenance

Refugee Housing Guidelines: 

Lease: 6 months – 1year – In client’s name; agency does not co-sign

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Financial support: security deposit and 3 – 4 month rent

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Training on apartment maintenance and rent payments

Local Refugee Housing Needs 

125 -150 units

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600 arrivals per year

Why Rent to Refugees?

Renting to Refugees: 

Good business proposition – Understand rent pay – Arrive as families – Pre-screened overseas – Agency support – Many long-term tenants – Upward trajectory – Community-minded – Citizenship at stake

Renting to Refugees 

Show of Compassion: – Provider of first home in America – Participant in saving lives – Personal gratification – Reminder of our own family’s immigrant experience

Challenges 

Language – Initial interpretation provided – Assist with lease and maintenance request

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Culture – Agency serves as liaison; bridge cultural and language gap

Challenges 

Concern of rent payment after agency’s financial support – Open communication – Impact agency’s good reputation

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Emergencies – Taught 911 – Client has emergency contact info and case manager is on-call

Solutions Office hours  Workshops  Home visits  ISAC (Immigrant Service and Connections) 

– Post-resettlement support

Landlord perspective 

Benefits

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Challenges

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Is It Worth It?

Refugee Tenant Experience 

“Happy to live in a place where kids have a yard to play and neighbors who smile.” – Spring 2015 Arrival, Family of 5

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“Finally, my family and I can sleep in peace and quiet” – Summer 2016 Arrival, Family of 4

What Does Successful Resettlement Look Like? 

Refugees are: – Connected to community – Empowered to handle new challenges – Self-sufficient – Giving back to newer refugees & new community – Hope for the future

A New Home in Pittsburgh

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Thank you!  Questions?

Contact Info 

Leslie Aizenman – Jewish Family & Children Services – 412-904-5976 – [email protected]

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Taylor Hennessee – Northern Area Multi-Service Center – 412-781-1175 ext:3924 – [email protected]