Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
Is International Institute of New Hampshire out of compliance too?
Posted by Christopher Coen on March 6, 2010
The Mayor of Manchester, New Hamphire, Ted Gatsas, in a letter to the state refugee coordinator this week has accused the International Institute of New Hampshire (a USCRI affiliate) of, “steering newly arrived refugees into ‘substandard’ apartments and failing to ensure their health and well-being.” (here)
The March 2 letter asks the state to pressure the agency to change its ways. It calls for new regulations requiring the International Institute of New Hampshire to meet regularly with city officials and to notify the city before new refugees arrive. The mayor’s letter also asks the state refugee coordinator, Barbara Seebart, to subject the agency to a performance audit “based on objective service and success standards.” Seebart said her office does not have the authority to conduct such an audit, nor for that matter can it require a resettlement agency to consult the city about its work. She said she plans to refer the mayor’s letter to “the appropriate party,” though as of yesterday, she was not sure who, specifically, that might be. One thing the state already does keep tabs on, according to Seebart, is whether the International Institute makes good use of federal grant dollars. Portions of that money are supposed to go to English-language classes, job placement assistance and preventive health services. In each of those areas, Seebart said, the agency has performed well. …. Alderman Pat Long said he has been hearing “horror stories” for years about refugees being placed in unfurnished apartments with several building code violations. “It’s gotten out of hand,” he said.
So poor people live in apartments without furniture? But, International Institute of New Hampshire has been paid by the State Department to provide minimum furnishings, you know, the stuff outlined in that pesky thing called a contract (see Operational Guidance).
Bedding (described as bed frame and spring, or equivalent, and mattress) appropriate for age and gender composition of family. One set of drawers, shelves, or other unit appropriate for storage of clothing per family. One kitchen table per famil.y 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.
Furthermore, the law/regulations that govern the U.S. refugee resettlement program (45 C.F.R. PART 400—REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, see 400.5:H) requires that local refugee resettlement agencies meet regularly with local government officials.
“…the State will…assure that meetings are convened, not less often than quarterly, whereby representatives of local resettlement agencies, local community service agencies, and other agencies that serve refugees meet with representatives of State and local governments to plan and coordinate the appropriate placement of refugees in advance of the refugees’ arrival.”
Also, according to the the State Department contract — the Cooperative Agreement — that USCRI signed, the International Institute of New Hampshire must:
“…colaborate with state and local officials, other agencies and services in the area in implementing a plan to rationalize the numbers of refugees to be resettled and to ensure quality services and a welcoming atmosphere are provided to refugees.”
Why doesn’t the state refugee coordinator seem to understand these basics? What does she mean that she can’t require a resettlement agency to consult the city about its work?
Furthermore, I don’t know why anyone would be opposed to audits. How else would anyone know if public contracts are being complied with, and that public money is being used according to requirements?
By the way, according to the latest State Department monitoring (2004) of the other refugee resettlement agency in new Hampshire, Lutheran Community Services of Northern New England, that agency was not meeting contract requirements either (here). There was a lack of dresser drawers, clothing, pocket money and prepared meals for refugees upon their arrival.
This entry was posted on March 6, 2010 at 12:37 am and is filed under government, local officials, failure to notify, New Hampshire, Operational Guidance, R&P, USCRI. Tagged: audit, Barbara Seebart, building code violations, International Institute of New Hampshire, manchester, mayor, New Hampshire, Operational Guidance, state refugee coordinator, unfurnished apartments, USCRI. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, Catholic Diocese of Arlington caught neglecting refugees, area churches say enough is enough « Friends of Refugees said
[...] Of course we just saw this problem in New Hampshire, where the state refugee coordinator claimed she couldn’t require that the local resettlement agencies coordinate with local government agencies — even though that is what the law requires! (here) [...]