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Manchester, New Hampshire, Debates Refugee Resettlement
Staff of the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Program (l to r) Amy Roach, Shelley Lathrop, Alen Omerbegovic, Augustin Ntabaganyimana, Forkpah Sumo, and Ann Dancy.
Photo: Carol Fouke-Mpoyo
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When it first came out in late May 2006, a report commissioned by the former mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire, seemed to threaten the resettlement of refugees in that city -- at least for awhile. Instead, it appears to have catalyzed better understanding of how resettlement works, and better communication and coordination of all involved in resettling refugees to New Hampshire.
The 25-page "Report on Refugee Resettlement in Manchester" charged that this city of about 110,000 residents was getting more than its "fair share" of refugees and less-than-proportionate resources from federal and state sources, and questioned the city's capacity to assimilate more refugees.
The report worried refugee service providers, including the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Program (IRRP), a Church World Service affiliate. Although IRRP now places relatively few refugees in Manchester compared with other New Hampshire cities, it wants to foster welcoming communities for refugees throughout the state.
New Hampshire has two refugee resettlement agencies, the IRRP, based in Concord, a program of Lutheran Social Services of Northern New England (LSS), and the International Institute of New Hampshire, based in Manchester.
IRRP resettled 391 refugees in New Hampshire in FY 2004, 174 in FY 2005, and 107 through June of FY 2006, said Program Manager Amy Roach. There was more resettlement in Manchester in FY 2004, but our resettlement in FY 2005 and FY 2006 has mostly been in Concord and Laconia, with a handful of family reunion cases going to Manchester and Nashua."
Manchester's Board of Mayor and Aldermen put the refugee resettlement report on its July 11 meeting agenda for action. A period of public comment on any issue was held immediately before the meeting, as before all the board's meetings. Several refugees testified, along with representatives of state and voluntary agencies involved in refugee resettlement.
Amy Ignatius, a New Hampshire state official whose office includes coordination of refugee resettlement, reviewed corrections and clarifications that her office had submitted in writing before the meeting.
Among concerns was that the city's report based its analysis on numbers from 2004 -- when Manchester did experience a bulge in refugee arrivals -- and did not consider that numbers were reduced considerably in 2005 and 2006.
In fact, the large influx of Somali Bantu refugees in 2004 prompted the U.S. State Department to slow resettlement to Manchester significantly to give the resettlement agencies and service providers time to catch up. State statistics show that in 2005, Manchester took in a little more than half of New Hampshire’s 312 incoming refugees, a steep drop from the year before.
Also of concern was that the report combined refugee and immigrant numbers in several instances, underrepresented the resources that the state and voluntary agencies provide for resettlement in Manchester, and understated the availability of suitable jobs and affordable housing for refugees newly resettling there.
The state also disputed the report's claim that no community agencies or programs support acculturation of refugee families after the initial eight months of federal benefits, listing more than a dozen, and its unsubstantiated citation of a recent media report that "it generally takes 12 years for an Eastern European family to become self-sufficient."
In fact, the vast majority of refugees in New Hampshire are employed within three months, the state pointed out, adding, "Most refugees become citizens after five years. At the five-year mark, they often also own homes, vote, and, of course, pay taxes."
Refugee thanks Manchester
A case in point is Alvidena Cosic, a refugee from Bosnia who testified at the July 11 hearing. "I love living in Manchester," said Cosic, who arrived with her family in the late 1990s. "For newcomers there are jobs, less expensive apartments, and transportation before we are able to buy cars. Everything I needed when I first came was right here. And, most importantly, the city was welcoming and already home to a diverse population."
Now Alvidena and her husband own two businesses -- a restaurant and a hair salon -- and are looking to open a third. "I'm paying you guys taxes," she reminded the aldermen. "Thank you for helping us here in Manchester. We'll never forget what you did for us."
In her public comment on July 11, IRRP Director Ann Dancy said, "As you plan for what is best for Manchester, I encourage you to look to urban centers that are economically strong and culturally vibrant. They all are embracing diversity and utilizing it to power their economies. Resettled refugees are fueling the economic success of this city."
Dancy assured her agency's availability to work with the city "to craft an approach that makes refugee resettlement a positive experience for all involved."
Community members testify
During the public comment period, there were even two unexpected statements of support for refugees from community members who came to testify about other matters.
One expressed his concern that a proposed strip club would be a bad influence on refugees resettling in the community. Another, speaking against the proposed demolition of a historic firehouse, commented that Manchester has "splendid buildings and splendid people, including the refugees and immigrants who live in our community."
As soon as the period of public comment concluded, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen convened and turned promptly to the refugee resettlement report. Public Health Director Frederick A. Rusczek, who chaired the group that wrote the report, reviewed it -- then released the group's recommendations publicly for the first time.
City asks more coordination
Refugees and their advocates had feared less than positive consequences for refugees resettling to Manchester, but the recommendations that finally came forward asked for more communication and coordination among city and state officials, voluntary agencies that assist refugees, and refugee themselves. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted the resolutions unanimously.
After the vote, Mayor Frank Guinta said, "I hope no one looks at this as an adversarial approach. The city wants to do what it can for all refugees who come. We want ... close cooperation with state and local government, and to track every dollar and its impact on the city. The report is a first step toward ensuring proper housing, education, health for any refugee who comes here."
"The recommendations will encourage community participation and thoughtful communication," Dancy said. "Different groups already are meeting around these issues. Perhaps we can focus our work in a more collaborative way. Our agency looks forward to participating in any new advisory groups that are formed. We see this as a great opportunity for more communication among all parties."
Written by Carol Fouke-Mpoyo, CWS/IRP Information Specialist
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