5 TRUTHS ABOUT RESETTLEMENT

The federally-managed and funded refugee resettlement system in America is designed to be a public/private partnership. However, a lack of scalable infrastructure for community-based and private sector collaboration leaves gaps in the resettlement experience for families. Through firsthand experience, 1st and 3rd party research, and collaborations with industry experts, we’ve identified five truths about the refugee resettlement system in America:

5 TRUTHS ABOUT THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES

1. The system is designed to keep people alive.

2. The system does not account for the things and services that make an individual or family FEEL alive.

3. The system does not have resettling families covered.

4. Most resettling families struggle to have basic needs met.

5. The stakes are high and neighbors can help.

It’s not uncommon for resettlement agency case workers to get lost in an unending cycle of reporting and going from one appointment to the next. The system is not perfect, and even on it’s best day, there are gaps and families fall through. Miry’s List is the mechanism for American people to get involved directly to support resettling refugees in America, taking pressure and workload off agencies and case workers, helping families to become part of a connected community in their new neighborhoods.

It’s never been easier or more enjoyable to make direct impact for families resettling in America as refugees.

Huda Abu Gharbih, Director of Family Services, Arabic, Miry’s List

Photograph by Christina Gandolfo