Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
World Relief claims most of their required items for refugees are bought, not donated
Posted by Christopher Coen on February 13, 2010
World Relief in Fort Wayne, Indiana is claiming that it purchases most of the required items for refugees (see article).
The long, detailed checklist of furnishings, kitchen items, linens, cleaning supplies, toiletries and food for each refugee adds up. Jeff Keplar, director of World Relief in Fort Wayne, said his agency must buy the majority of the items refugees need and rely on donated items to make up the difference.
Yet, used items are acceptable, so how impressive is his claim? How much could these items cost at garage sales and second-hand stores? Not much. In FY2008 World Relief got 64% of its funding from the government (see 990 form), which must be even higher today due to the doubling of the State Department’s R&P grant. I suspect that their refugee resettlement program in the US must depend almost entirely on public funds. So the fact that they have to purchase a few items isn’t too impressive, especially when you know they are using taxpayer funds to do it.
The “long, detailed checklist” of required items, referred to in the article, is actually a relatively short list. Here it is:
Furniture:
Bedding (described as bed frame and spring, or equivalent, and mattress) appropriate for age and gender composition of family. (Only married couples or small children of the same sex may be expected to share beds.)
One set of drawers, shelves, or other unit appropriate for storage of clothing (in addition to closet, unless closet has shelving to accommodate clothing) per family
One kitchen table per family
One kitchen chair per person
One couch per family, or equivalent seating (in addition to kitchen chairs)
One lamp per room, unless installed lighting is present
One place setting of tableware (fork, knife, spoon) per person
One place setting of dishes (plate, bowl and cup) per person
Pots and pans: at least one sauce pan, one frying pan, one baking dish
Mixing/serving bowls
One set of kitchen utensils (such as spatula, wooden spoon, knife, serving utensils, etc.)
Can opener
Baby items as needed
One towel per person
One set of sheets and blankets for each bed
One pillow and pillowcase for each person
Alarm clock
Paper, pens and/or pencils
Light bulbs
Dish soap
Bathroom/kitchen cleanser
Sponges or cleaning rags and/or paper towels
Laundry detergent
Two waste baskets
Mop or broom
Trash bags
Toilet paper
Shampoo
Soap
One toothbrush per person
Toothpaste
Personal hygiene items as appropriate
CLOTHING
Appropriate seasonal clothing required for work, school, and everyday use as required for all members of the family, including proper footwear for each member of the family, and diapers for children as necessary.
______________________________________________________
Now, is it me or is this list not exactly long, and consist of just a few basic items a family needs to start a new life? Aren’t these just obvious items that resettlement agencies would supply for the refugees even if they didn’t have this list in the government contract? Why do they keep telling reporters how burdomsome and extensive their requirements are?
Notice that the list doesn’t even contain such basic, needed items as clothes irons, curtains, wallets, phones and phone service, stamps & envelopes, dictionaries, umbrellas, watches and vacuums (needed to keep carpeting clean so that it doesn’t attract roaches). Basic children’s items that are not required include, cribs, toddler beds, play pens, car seats, boosters, high chairs, and strollers.
I think that reporters should take a look at the basic contract documents of the refugee resettlement program instead of just taking the word of these agencies, that their requirements are so strenuous or expensive – because they aren’t.
It should also be pointed out that often the resettlement agencies don’t even provide these “required” items. Check out this report about World Relief refugee clients in Nashville who didn’t get furniture or adequate clothing. Also, in many resettlement sites community members often buy these items for refugees when resettlement agencies such as World Relief fail to fullfill these so-called “minimum standards” of their government refugee contracts.
Seth Kulbida said
Hi, I assume your web site could be having cell phone browser compatibility problems. When I look at your website in Chrome, it looks great but when opening in Firefox, it has some overlapping. I just want to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
christophercoen said
Thank you for your feedback. Are you using a cell phone or PED to access our website? If so, what brand and model are you using?