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Working Better Together
Imagine you’ve lived your entire life in a refugee camp in Democratic Republic of Congo. You have never been inside a building let alone experienced running water from a bathroom sink indoors. Then, one day, you and your family arrive on a plane to Cleveland, Ohio. All of a sudden, you are thrust into a new environment and culture where you barely know the language. What would you do?
Thankfully, Cleveland is one of the best cities in the country to resettle refugees because of the infrastructure and services provided by the agencies that make up the Refugee Services Collaborative of Greater Cleveland (RSC). In 2010, these organizations came together to explore how they could be more efficient and effective as a group. This commitment to collaborate ensures that refugees’ basic needs and more are met when they arrive.
The RSC’s core mission is to enhance public awareness around the plight of refugees while continuing to better understand what impact refugees have on the Cleveland area including socioeconomic, population changes due to refugee resettlement, and education about refugees to the general public. The RSC members realized that no single agency has the ability to address all these fundamental issues but working together they could significantly expand their reach.
What is refugee resettlement?
This complex process is managed internationally by the United Nations. There are then national voluntary agencies, such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, that have an agreement with the United States government to resettle refugees who have been legally admitted through the federal Refugee Admissions Program. The voluntary agencies then work with the US Department of State to determine what cities can effectively accept refugees and how many they can receive.
What makes Cleveland so special?
The RSC connects all the non-profits providing social services who are equipped to help refugees make Cleveland their home. They provide affordable housing, access to food, translation services, job training and more. Community West Foundation has been supporting the Refugee Services Collaborative since 2010 and many of the agencies within the group for even longer.
Education is key
The RSC sees the value in collecting data and educating the community on the positive impact refugees can have on a region. They conducted two Economic Impact studies (2012 and 2016), both funded in part by Community West Foundation, on the positive fiscal impact refugee resettlement has had on Cleveland’s local economy, sharing data showing that refugee resettlement in Cleveland beats the national average for rates of employment and household income. Just last year, they completed a Secondary Migration Study that assessed the motivations, challenges, needs, and service gaps particular to secondary migrants in Cleveland through the perspective of refugee service providers as well as secondary migrants themselves. RSC’s efforts to educate and engage the community has secured the support and/or involvement of thousands of local residents, businesses, and organizations as a result.
To view the Economic Impact and Secondary Migration studies, visit RSC’s website: rsccleveland.org
For more information, contact Community West Foundation at 440-360-7370 or visit CommunityWestFoundation.org.
