Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
The last time this blog commented on refugees in Boston, a year ago, the issue was the exceedingly high rents, which the refugees said that they could not afford. Nothing seems to have changed. Refugees are again reporting, this time to Boston’s WCVB ABC TV NewsCenter 5, about being resettled to a city that they cannot afford to live in. Why then does the U.S. government and its refugee resettlement agency private contractors continue to place refugees there? The reason given is that “refugees find more affordable housing elsewhere in [Massachusetts].” Shouldn’t these refugees therefore first be placed elsewhere in the state too?
…Ahmed Almusarawy and his 4-year-old daughter head to a Chelsea relief agency for clothes and English classes. He’s trying to rebuild a life for his wife and four children after being shot while working as a state department driver in Iraq.
With the help of a translator, Almusarawy describes his injuries.
“Twelve bullets in his stomach and his leg,” she said.
Almusarawy has struggled since he arrived here nearly a year ago, and can no longer afford his $1,100 Chelsea rent.
“They told us ‘you will have a house, a job,’” said Almusarawy.
Other Iraqi refugees tell similar stories. The government subsidies don’t cover high rent on Boston area homes, which they are placed in by resettlement agencies. Jobs are hard to find…
…Hameed Nasif, who brought his five children here in September. Through a translator, he talked about promises by the U.S.
“To help you and assist you to find a job, to learn you the language, to assist you with anything,” said Nasif.
With no job, Nasif can no longer afford their $1,600 a month Everett apartment.
Nasif’s family as well as Almusarawy’s are both due in court Thursday facing eviction hearings.
“It’s scary. They are scared for the future,” said Nasif.
“There is no answer. No answer. You must do something for these families.” said Albadri.
The Massachusetts office for Refugees and Immigrants acknowledged there are challenges. But in a phone call to NewsCenter 5, Director Richard Chacon called
Massachusetts a “national model for other states.” He said
while housing is expensive in the Boston area, wages tend to be
higher, and that refugees often find more affordable housing
elsewhere in the state……The local resettlement agencies responsible for temporarily funding, then assisting the refugees once they arrive did not return calls from NewsCenter 5. Read more here
