Sisters Assist in Refugee Resettlement
A journey of discovery began in early September when Sr. Marie Chiodo, DW, and Sr. Ann Marie Gardiner, SSND, learned about the United States' resettlement efforts for Afghani refugees in Maryland. Nine resettlement agencies partner with the US Government to do this; the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) are among them.
Eager to help the Afghani refugee families, they reached out to Lutheran Social Services (LSS), the resettlement agency in their area. They asked, "what was needed and how we could help?" When LSS described the need for household goods, they wrote letters to Sisters, family, and friends asking for donations. The response was very generous. They received $1,570, and it enabled them to purchase 34 mattress pads ($510), 48 towels ($356), and eight cell phones, including Sim Cards and Activation fees ($720). Essential to survival, the phones are vital in helping refugees settle in, navigate schools, jobs, doctors, and connections to their most critical needs. These purchased items were added to the overwhelming response of donations collected through an online appeal made by Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hyattsville, MD, where LSS has its offices.
The Sisters became a part of LSS's volunteer workforce and opened boxes, sorted products and supplies, and organized rooms. During their days of sorting and organizing, they learned how much is needed for refugee families and how daunting it is to come to a completely different environment and culture of people with nothing in hand. To assist with this transition, Lutheran Social Services provides a caseworker for each family. The caseworker helps refugee families re-establish their lives by helping to connect them with their most basic needs. This includes: securing housing, furniture, and household goods; assisting in applying for social security cards and seeking employment; registering children in schools and identifying healthcare providers; explaining access to public transportation and local shopping; and coordinating language translation and social services.
All Afghani arrivals are housed at military bases where their vetting process and health assessment are scrutinized. Since their arrival, 100 families have been settled in Prince George's County, Maryland, and close to 400 in Northern Virginia.
Here are some facts the Sisters learned about refuges that you may not know:
What is a refugee? Under international law, refugees are forced to flee their home country to escape persecution or a serious threat to their lives, physical integrity, or freedom. Fleeing may be linked to race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or social group membership. It may also be related to situations of conflict, violence, or public disorder. Refugees are protected by international law and cannot be sent home if their lives or freedom are at risk. (UNHCR – United Nations High Command for Refugees)
How many refugees are there in the world? At least 82.4 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 26.4 million refugees forced to leave their country. (UNHCR)
Which countries host most refugees? Developing countries host about 86% of the world's refugees. In 2019, more than two-thirds of all refugees came from just five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.
How much money do refugees get from the US government? Each refugee receives $1,100 upon arrival. This money is allocated only for the first three months. The money goes to the resettlement agency that dispenses it to the family for housing, food, transportation, etc.
What other benefits do they receive? Refugees receive SNAP and Medicaid in the beginning until they earn a livable wage. They are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Most are highly motivated, come from a strong work ethic, and want to get off any assistance as soon as possible.
Can refugees get jobs? The government authorizes refugees to work immediately. Usually, they tend to be baggers at grocery stores, housekeepers at hotels, and caregivers—low-level positions at the start.
Do Refugees pay taxes? Yes.
From Tucson Refugee Ministry: As part of overall government spending, refugee resettlement is less than .02% of government spending. Here's another way to understand this: There are approximately 122 million taxpayers in the US. If we divide the amount of money spent on refugee resettlement by the number of taxpayers, each taxpayer contributes $5 per year.