Some Facts and Figures about Refugee Resettlement in … Facts and Figures about Refugee Resettlement in the US Bill Evans 1. ... Syria Dem. Rep. Congo Where ... Nepali Kiswahili (Swahili)

Some Facts and Figures about Refugee Resettlement in the US

Bill Evans

1

Goals

• Challenges refugees face

• Identify groups:• That may benefit from wrap-around case management• Some that might not need it/or benefit from it

• Some research opportunities

2

Background

• 21 million refugees in the world

• 41 million displaced from their homes

• US has re-settled ~3.5 million refugees since ‘75

• < 1% of refugees will be actively resettled

• ½ have been actively resettled to the US

3

Resettlement process

• Once granted refugee status – handled by Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at State

• Contract with one of 9 VOLAGs• “Initial placement and reception”

• Case management for 90 days• Find housing, furniture, enroll in ESL• Get SSN• Cash assistance/health coverage• Apply for federal assistance programs• Key outcome is employment at 90 days

4

• Matching grant program• Funded by HHS• Provide $2000 in assistance if SP provides $1000• Not eligible for cash assistance• More detailed service• Self sufficiency in 120-180 days

5

Refugees resettled to the US

60

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Cou

nts

Year

Near East/South Asia

LA/Caribbean

Former Sov. Union

Europe

Asia

Africa

9.4%

2.3%

3.0%

3.2%

4.4%

6.8%

10.6%

11.6%

14.5%

14.8%

19.3%

Other countries

Eritrea

Ukraine

Afghanastan

Iran

Bhutan

Somalia

Iraq

Burma

Syria

Dem. Rep. Congo

Where do they come from (FY2016)?

7

50%

90%

Top 10 languages

8348

1,338

1,341

1,575

1,919

2,740

5,840

6,532

8,204

21,527

Chaldean (Iran/Iraq)

Spanish

Burmese

Armenian

Farsi, Western

S'gaw Karen (Myanmar)

Nepali

Kiswahili (Swahili)

Somali

Arabic

Where are they resettled (FY 2016)

9

50%

3,125

3,219

3,233

3,342

4,110

4,194

4,258

5,026

7,803

7,909

Illinois

Pennsylvania

Washington

North Carolina

Arizona

Ohio

Michigan

New York

Texas

California

10

X

X

X

Age at arrival, FY 2015

11

39.6%

13.8%

20.3%

13.0%

7.0%3.7% 2.7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

0-17 18-24 24-34 34-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Perc

ent

Age at arrival

40%

34%

6.4%

Comparison

• Refugees• That entered at ages 18-45• 0-20 years in the country• Ages 18-65

• Native-born US ages 18-65

12

Observed characteristics

Variable

Refugees, Arrived 18-45Aged 18-65

US BornAge 18-65

Age 40.1 42.3% Female 50.8 50.7%≥HS 67.1 90.8%≥College 23.5 36.7%≥ good English skills 62.3 99.7

Employment by English Proficiency

14

33.9%

58.2%

65.3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Not al all Not well Well or very well

Perc

ent e

mpl

oyed

English Language Profociency

Assistance in Year of Arrival (2015)

15

72.4%

40.3%

17.7%23.0%

67.7%

92.5%

8.8%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Cash Assistance Non-cash Assistance

48.6%

14.8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Perc

ent

Years since arrival

% Refugees with Poor English Ability

Assistance participation over time

17

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Perc

ent

Year of arrival

SNAP

SSI

TANF

Medicaid

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Perc

ent

Years since arrival

D: Employed

Average US born

Employment

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Perc

ent

Years since arrival

G: On SNAP

Average US born

On SNAP

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Perc

ent

Years since arrival

F: On Welfare

Average US born

On TANF

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Ear

ning

s

Years since arrival

E: Labor Earnings

Average US born

Labor Earnings

38% out of work are disabled

Outcome of children

• Refugees entered ages 4-16 that are currently 19-24

• Native-born residents aged 19-24

23

High School Graduation

2470%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

% H

igh

Scho

ol G

radu

ate

Age at entry

High School Grraduation Rates of Refugees, Aged 19-24 in 2010-2014 ACS by Age at Entry,

Average forUS born19-24 year olds

College Graduation

25

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

% C

olle

ge G

radu

ate

Age at entry

A: College Graduation Rates

Average for US born 23-28 year olds

Language ability

26

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Perc

ent

Age at entry

A: Percent of Refugees Entering With Poor English Abilityversus Age at Entry to the US

Without a parent

27

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Perc

ent

Age at entry

B: Percent of Refugees not Attached to a Birth Mother in the IPUMS, by Age of Entry

Support for refugees is usually low

28

Thanks!

29

Resettlement process

• Run by US Refugee Admissions Programs (USRAP)• Many agencies – many moving parts

• Refugees are referred to USRAP by many organizations• Most frequent is UN High Commission for Refugees• Could be US Embassy or consulate

• Refugee portfolio put together by Refugee Support Centers (RSC)

• NGOs and International Agencies

30