Lansing
How many Refugees live in Lansing?
Lansing has a very long history of refugee resettlement. Since the early 1980’s Lansing has welcomed an average of 500 new refugees each year. Over the past four decades Lansing has resettled around 20,000 refugees who are now part of the fabric of our community.
What country are refugees in Lansing from?
The Lansing refugee community includes Afghans, Bosnians, Burmese, Bhutanese, Burundians, Congolese (DR and Brazzaville), Croats, Cubans, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Hmong, Iranians, Iraqis, Kurds, Liberians, Meskhetian Turks, Somali, Bantu Somali, Sudanese, Syrian and Vietnamese, along with small numbers from many other countries around the world.
How do refugees reach Lansing?
For a variety of reasons, neighboring countries where refugees have fled sometimes refuse to let them integrate into society—they are kept in camps, not allowed to hold jobs outside the camps, etc. When it is determined that the likelihood is very slim of refugees either returning to their home country or being able to integrate into the society of the neighboring country, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) elects a very small percentage of people for resettlement to a third country (only about 1% of all refugees, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants).
There are fewer than 20 countries worldwide that regularly accept refugees on a third country basis. According to UNHCR, of the 88,000 refugees resettled worldwide in 2008, the United States accepted around 60,000. In 2018, the U.S. accepted only 22,491, the lowest number in the history of the refugee resettlement program.
Examples of refugee populations resettled in Lansing over the years include Black Christians persecuted in the Sudan, and more recently, Burmese and Bhutanese targeted by their governments at home, and most recently Afghan evacuees targeted by the Taliban.
What kind of support do refugees receive?
A revolving fund pays for plane tickets. Refugees then buy their tickets using a loan. Once the resettled refugee pays back the cost of ticket the money can be loaned again to bring more refugees. Refugees are expected to begin paying back this debt shortly after they are resettled in the community.
The UNHCR or similar agency gives a very brief orientation before the refugees arrive in America. Generally, these orientations cover topics ranging from how to shake hands, to “survival English”, to how to use basic kitchen appliances. Then after arrival, the receiving agency provides resettlement support. This includes food, medical appointments, documentation, shelter, clothing, and job search services. These resettlement services last for a short time and it is expected refugees become self-sufficient during this period. This is where the Refugee Development Center can help.
What is the role of the Refugee Development Center?
Current RDC programs include English language classes, mentoring, tutoring, homevisits, leadership institute, summer camp, Veggie box delivery, college and career assistance, entrepreneurship support, wellness groups, and a welcoming community drop in center. Working closely with community partners in the area, RDC staff members identify needs and coordinate to provide critical services. Founded on the principles of welcome, inclusion and belonging, the RDC provided a wide array of formal and informal learning opportunities to support refugee families and help them thrive in their new community. The RDC offers unique unduplicated services in mid-Michigan and is positioned as a critical bridge between the larger community and refugee/immigrant families.