The need is especially severe for individuals arriving with humanitarian parolee status, as opposed to SIV status, say refugee advocates. Organizations that receive federal funding to resettle Afghan refugees are relying, in part, on donations from the public to help newcomers cover rent and other basic expenses. metro area including Northern Virginia and some cities in California are very expensive places to live, and it can be difficult to find reasonable housing and employment," it says. "Please be aware that the cost of living and the availability of housing can vary significantly in different locations across the United States. A page on the agency's website warns SIV holders that high housing costs may limit their resettlement options. Baltimore, more than an hour from Dulles, is the closest city on the list.Ī State Department spokesperson did not respond to questions about how SIV cities are selected, but provided a general statement that said individual SIV holders are placed in certain locations based on their family or social ties to an area, as well as their particular needs and characteristics. area made the cut, despite the region's relatively large Afghan population. The federal agency recently published a list of 19 cities it considers suitable to SIV holders. The State Department oversees the Special Immigrant Visa program, which Congress established in 2006 to protect Afghan and Iraqi nationals who assisted the U.S. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Silver Spring hovers around $1,700, according to one estimate. "I don't know where you're living with $1,200 to go towards rent," Jawando said. Most Afghan refugees entering the country receive $1,225 in cash benefits to start over in the U.S., said Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At Large). where we honestly acknowledge that our diversity is our strength," Albornoz told the audience.īut officials who spoke later raised concerns about refugees' ability to afford a new life in Montgomery County, where the median household income is nearly $110,000 per year. County Council Member Gabe Albornoz (D-At Large) praised county residents for their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Last Thursday in downtown Silver Spring, elected officials gathered with Muslim community leaders, refugee advocates, and local residents to formally welcome Afghan refugees to Montgomery County. "And the housing market for affordable apartments and townhomes in Northern Virginia is very challenging." Maybe a suitcase, maybe a backpack," says Stephen Carattini, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, another local organization assisting with resettlement efforts. And you're facing landlords who are asking for six months of upfront costs in order to take in a refugee family," says Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. "Imagine approaching this, and you have no nest egg. government during the 20-year war.Īnd now, those who wish to stay here must navigate one of the country's most expensive housing markets. Many thousands lack even the basic benefits granted to holders of Special Immigrant Visas, the designation reserved for Afghans who worked for the U.S. Some have multiple young children or require medical attention. Many refugees left home in a hurry, with scarce money and no English proficiency. Right now, thousands of Afghans fleeing the Taliban are camped out at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia, while a handful of local nonprofits scramble to locate permanent housing for every family who is eligible for resettlement in the Washington region. But many newcomers are facing even tougher situations than he did five years ago. Today, Abdul - whose last name we're withholding to protect his family in Afghanistan - works for a nonprofit that helps find housing for Afghan refugees like himself. He later paid him back using benefits he received from the resettlement agency that helped him transition to life in the U.S. "I thought, 'How can I do that?'" he says.Ībdul borrowed money from a friend to secure the apartment. The rent at his first apartment was $1,300 per month, plus two months' rent for the security deposit. When Abdul arrived in Alexandria as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2016, he came with his wife, their infant son, and $1,000. But many advocates say high housing prices are one of the biggest barriers for the new generation of Afghan arriving here. Thousands of people fleeing from Afghanistan have arrived in the Washington region, which already has a sizable Afghan diaspora.
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