Federal refugee administrator Barbara Day said the mayor's raised concerns about refugees will be considered as decisions are made on funding resettlement agencies.
SPRINGFIELD — As Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and his top advisors have objected to the influx of new refugees in Springfield, alleging they are being “dumped” on the city’s doorstep without adequate guidance or services, a top federal official said Sarno’s concerns are being considered as her bureau evaluates future funding for agencies.
Barbara Day, domestic resettlement section chief for the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, submitted a letter last week to Sarno, stating her bureau “applauds your efforts to convene meetings with the resettlement service providers and we look forward to learning the outcome of those discussions.” [read letter at end of this article]
Sarno asked the bureau recently to stop sending new refugees to Springfield, saying the influx is overburdening city services including the schools, code enforcement and police. Sarno and advisors say many refugees are being placed in substandard housing and have inadequate services to succeed, creating concerns about their safety and public safety.
Representatives of Lutheran Social Services of New England and the Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, the two agencies responsible for refugee resettlement in the region, have defended their programs, saying they provide a myriad of services, advance inspections of housing, and other assistance, supported by public and private funds. Both agencies said they do not place refugees in substandard housing, and do not cut off services after three months, as some critics have alleged.
Day said she has spoken with a representative of the state’s refugee coordination office and with a city lawyer since receiving Sarno’s letter that asked for the freeze on new resettlements.
“We agree that refugees are best placed in safe and affordable housing in communities that have services to support initial resettlement and long-term integration,” Day said in her letter. “Local consultations with service providers and civic leaders are important vehicles for understanding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and what it takes to successfully give refugees a new start in a new country.”
In fiscal year 2012, the two resettlement agencies resettled a total of 605 refugees in Western Massachusetts. Of that number, 589 were resettled in Hampden County including 275 in Springfield, according to state statistics. The current fiscal year does not end until Sept. 30, and final figures are not yet available.
Refugee advocates last week met with the mayor and other city officials, and the sides agreed to create a small task force to respond to the mayor’s questions and concerns and to consider improvements to the program to aid the refugees and city.
Sarno has asked for a greater description of services and funding received, saying there is a need for increased accountability and transparency.
The information provided by the mayor will be taken into consideration when decisions are made for the coming federal fiscal year regarding competitive funding requests from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and Episcopal Mitigation Ministries, Day said.
“We can assure you that these proposals, including the abstracts for their affiliates in Springfield, will receive thorough consideration,” Day said.
Lutheran Social Services received $1,238,200 in refugee resettlement and refugee services funding in Hampden County in fiscal 2013. Of that amount, $362,500 goes directly to clients and $875,700 goes for operating the services, a spokeswoman said.
A significant portion of the funds, however, is not only for newly arriving refugees but for all refugees served, some for up to five years, the spokeswoman said. The grants include funding for services such as case management, education and employment efforts, according to a summary.
Robert Marmor, chief executive officer of Jewish Family Services, said his agency received $292,927 in refugee resettlement funds for Hampden County, through the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants. About 60 percent of the federal funds targeted Springfield, he said.
Of the grant amount, $1,125 is awarded as direct aid to each refugee in a family, and the agency receives $750 per refugee for its own administrative and operational expenses, which is the same formula, he said.
Jewish Family Services also received a $105,961 grant from the city for English language services for employment efforts, and a $23,574 state Department of Public Health grant, among other public and private fund sources, he said.
Sarno and his advisors say they also need more information regarding how decisions are made to settle refugees in Springfield, alleging the city has borne an unfair burden of refugees. Twelve percent of the refugees that are settled in Massachusetts are placed in Springfield apartments, Sarno said.
Representatives of the refugee organizations stated last week that other communities also take in numerous refugees, such as West Springfield and Lowell. A key factor in locating refugees includes access to public transportation, services and affordable housing, they said.
Sarno said that West Springfield has a greater number of refugees who are from countries with higher education and colder climates, able to adapt more easily, and he questioned why communities such as Northampton, Greenfield and Pittsfield have few if any refugees each year.
Response to Mayor Sarno - August 28 by masslive