Federal funding boost to soften refugees' landing

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By providing new refugees twice as much money for rent and basic needs like beds during their first few months in America, the U.S. government is taking one of the most substantial steps in decades to improve their lives, advocates say.

Starting immediately, the federal funding initially spent per newly arrived refugee will double from $900 to $1,800.

"This is the biggest thing that has happened for the refugee program since it was created in 1980," said Jen Smyers, who works on refugee policy issues for Church World Service in Washington, D.C.

Refugees are selected to come to the U.S. because they have a fear of persecution in their home country for reasons such as race, religion or political belief. They arrive with enormous hope and, often, unrealistic expectations.

After years, if not decades, of being provided for in camps around the world, many refugees are expected to quickly become self-sufficient, though they might be illiterate and unable to speak English.

During this recession, many live in stark poverty, unable to find work, and in some cases, questioning why they came. At the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City, there has been a steep decline in the number of new refugees who find jobs during their first few months in Utah. About 20 percent of refugees participating in an employment program find jobs within the first three months, compared to about 80 percent a year ago.

In Salt Lake City, the state has tapped thousands of anti-homeless dollars to prevent evictions of hundreds of refugee families.

Prior to announcing the funding increase, a top state department official visited American cities in 2009 to understand refugees' lives.

"I heard from refugees threatened with eviction after only months in the United States," Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, said in a statement. "I learned that refugees often had to choose between buying food or diapers for their children."

The increase will be funded with about $50 million this fiscal year, using dollars that were previously spent on refugees abroad.

Under the new funding plan, which will retroactively affect anyone who arrived after January 1, at least $1,100 of the $1,800 must be spent directly on refugees. Since the resettlement program began several decades ago, that initial state department funding has gone down in value by more than 50 percent.

"This is a big step in the right direction," said Patrick Poulin, the resettlement director of the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City.

Years ago, federal funding for refugees, such as cash and medical assistance, lasted 36 months, recalled Gerald Brown, the director of the state Refugee Services Office. Now the funding lasts in many cases for eight months. Since 2000, more than 8,000 refugees have arrived in Utah.

While a task force in Washington, D.C. continues to review the U.S. refugee resettlement program, Brown hopes more change is on the way. Having more federal funding would allow Utah to build long-term programs, whether it's for employment or housing.

"We could just be so much more innovative," he said.

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