Refugees and Housing

When a refugee enters the United States, it's most likely that his or her first night in the country will be spent in the apartment rented for him or her by the resettlement agency to which he or she is assigned. This article is geared towards volunteers that work with refugees who either want more information about refugee housing or for those who are actually providing housing orientations to refugees.

After about 24 hours or more of traveling, the newcomer is usually utterly exhausted and just wants to sleep. The case manager/assistant, or a volunteer will give the refugee a crash course in living in an apartment. This quick orientation includes how to turn on lamps, use the water faucet, turn on/off and adjust heating/cooling, how to lock doors, where to find a phone and how to dial 911 in case of an emergency, etc. Many of the features of living in an apartment are new to a lot of refugees who have not been exposed to the "modern conveniences" of electricity, indoor plumbing, etc.

Within a few days of arrival, the refugee will receive a very detailed housing orientation. Most of the information contained in this orientation revolves around how to take care of an apartment, how to clean it, who to contact if something in the apartment needs repair, etc. This orientation will most likely not be the only one that a refugee will need. More informal and regular reminders on living in an apartment will likely be needed and provided by case workers or volunteers as issues arise.

Here are a few resources to use when providing a housing orientation to refugees. They include talking points, illustrations, and some are available in multiple languages.

Housing Orientation Booklet-available from Mercy Housing (which, unfortunately has recently lost its grant from the U.S. government). This booklet is a must-have when providing housing orientations to refugees. It gives clear, colored illustrations of potential problems of living in an apartment and how to avoid or solve them. It is also available in several different languages. http://www.refugeehouse.org/publications.htm

Welcome to Your New Home-This is a seven-page document detailing rights and responsibilities of tenants who rent apartments in the U.S., and it also goes over some of the basic housekeeping and safety information related to renting. This is a bit more detailed handout than the Mercy Housing booklet, and does not provide any illustrations. It is available in English, Arabic, and Russian. http://www.cal.org/co/domestic/toolkit/housing/index.html

If you are a volunteer with a refugee or a refugee family that provides cultural mentoring, help the family learn the ropes of housekeeping, personal safety, and responsibilities and rights as a tenant. Maintain communication with the case manager or your volunteer coordinator on a regular basis to discuss anything you notice amiss in the apartment, and help your family or individual become confident in their new surroundings by demonstrating and explaining how the whole system works as many times as necessary.