A meeting with the city and the three agencies which provide resettlement or support services has been scheduled for Aug. 28.
SPRINGFIELD – In a letter to refugee support agencies, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno unveiled a four-point proposal that would call for more state and federal funding to extend assistance services and improve immigrant housing and neighborhoods.
In preparation for an Aug. 28 meeting designed to discuss concerns about refugees in Springfield, Sarno sent a request to officials at the Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, Lutheran Social Services and the Catholic Charities Agency requesting a variety of data about refugees settled in the city and the services they receive.
The meeting was scheduled after Sarno released a letter he sent to the U.S. State Department asking that requests for future resettlement of refugees in the city be denied. It was met with strong criticism from the three agencies and other social service organizations in Springfield.
He cited concerns about refugees being placed in housing with multiple code violations, the burden refugees place on an already-stressed school system and problems with high unemployment.
“This is not an attack on the refugees in our city, as has been stated by some. I deeply and sincerely care about the plight of refugees. This is a call to review the agencies in question. To ensure that those who relocate and directly house refugees in the city of Springfield are held accountable and responsible for thorough and professional follow-through procedures and supportive services,” he said.
Sarno called for the state and local agencies to join him in advocating for more funding for services through the state and federal government.
The additional money would allow resettlement and support agencies to extend assistance to 18 months and specifically require education, transportation, banking, health care and housing services.
He is also asking for a state supplement to the federal refugee program and more funding to improve immigrant neighborhoods and to crack down on code violations.
The three-page letter asked agencies to provide documentation on the number of refugees settled in Springfield with a comparison to all those settled in Western Massachusetts since 2010.
He also asked for an explanation of the transitional assistance offered to families including initial and long-term cash assistance, employment services, educational support for children, medical assistance, psychological counseling and housing support.
“I would like to obtain a copy of any documents indicating and corresponding to the applicable criteria used to select what communities refugees are placed in...and whether there is some attempt to measure the impact on the host community of the significant number of refugees living at or below the poverty line,” he wrote.
Sarno also pointed out that Springfield, with an 11.8 percent unemployment rate, a median income of $32,124 and a school population where 17 percent of children do not speak English, has insufficient resources to meet the needs of its most needy residents.
Robert Marmor, president and chief executive officer for Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, said he is interested in discussing the proposal to lobby for more funding to increase services.
“This is a great opportunity for us to join forces and advocate statewide and nationally for programs who can support new Americans,” Marmor said.
He said he will try to provide all the data requested so that all the agencies and the city has the same facts and information to discuss.
Officials for Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities did not return requests for comment.
Mayor Domenic Sarno's Letter to Refugee Service Providers 8-21-2013 by MassLive2