Setting the record straight
Dennis Newell, Liz Martell and Cathy Runge
Originally published 03:06 p.m., November 28, 2007
Updated 03:06 p.m., November 29, 2007
AS MEMBERS of the Catholic Charities Advisory Council, we want to share the facts about what the agency does and its role in Emporia. We understand the concern among many of you that an outside agency is coming into Emporia to set up a refugee settlement. This is not true.
Catholic Charities is not an outside organization: The agency has operated within the 21 counties of Northeast Kansas for more than 50 years. It exists to respond to the social and welfare needs of the communities it serves. It serves, employs, and is supported by people of all faiths. Today, Catholic Charities provides more that 75,000 people with services out of its 9 offices. The office in Emporia, located at 702 Commercial St., Suite 3-A, was established in 1994 and has historically provided foster care and counseling services.
Why Catholic Charities is helping Somalis in Emporia: The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services recognized the growing population of Somali refugees in Emporia and asked Catholic Charities, which has experience in refugee resettlement and placement, for assistance in determining the size of the refugee population, as well as what support and services would be needed to help them quickly assimilate into the community.
As a result of the preliminary review, the State Refugee Social Services Program in Emporia was created. It is funded by the State of Kansas (through SRS) with federal money from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The amount of the grant for the first year is $109,000 and the grant is renewable annually depending upon how quickly the refugee population can reach full self-sufficiency. To date, we estimate there are approximately 400 Somalis living in Emporia.
Catholic Charities’ efforts under the State Refugee Social Services Program are focused on helping refugees become independent, self-sufficient, tax-paying contributors to the community in which they live. In addition, we will help them learn how to successfully interact with other members of the larger community: service providers, employers, schools, health care workers, etc.
Emporia is not a primary refugee resettlement site: Emporia has never been, nor is it anticipated to become, a primary site for refugee resettlement. The Somali refugees in Emporia were all resettled elsewhere in the U.S. and moved to Emporia for employment. Some future resettlement of refugees to Emporia is possible as the result of the “self-established” Somali community here. Such resettlement efforts are termed Family Reunification (family members of current Somali residents may apply for refugee status and be granted entry to the United States). We do not believe that family reunification efforts will significantly increase the size of the Somali community in Emporia.
Each refugee is allotted $425: The federal government allots $425 per refugee (to be spent on their behalf by the resettlement agency), as the initial resettlement allowance. This is a one-time allotment intended to help cover initial living expenses — rent, utilities, food, etc. Refugees are immediately eligible for public benefits, such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Assistance. Refugees do not have special eligibility and must qualify under the same criteria as American citizens and other legal residents.
What it means to be a refugee: In closing, we ask that each of us take a moment to ponder what it means to be a refugee. Refugees are individuals and families who have fled their homelands because they feared persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group.
We don’t know the stories of our fellow Somalis and how their life paths brought them to Emporia. But if their stories are similar to other Somalis who have sought asylum in the U.S., it’s likely that most of them witnessed atrocities we have only heard about from the news media. Specifically, many Somalis have witnessed the murder of their family and friends. Many have walked hundreds of miles without food and water seeking safety in a distant refugee camp. Most have lost everything and are starting their lives anew in a culture very different from their own.
Catholic Charities will work with our current Somali residents to help them understand our culture and assimilate into daily life in Emporia.
We hope these facts clarify Catholic Charities’ role in Emporia. We also want to announce that representatives of Catholic Charities will attend the Nov. 28 Town Meeting to answer your questions.
We are proud to serve on the Advisory Council for Emporia’s Catholic Charities office because we believe in and support the agency’s mission. Catholic Charities exists to help the residents of our community and challenges each of us to have compassion for each other, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.
• To post comments about this story, go to the Refugee Resettlement forum at http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/open/News/15/