Who is my neighbor?
OnRamp DFW has had the great privilege of helping several refugee families in the past year, so we wanted to share some more information with you about refugees and the process of getting to and settling in the United States.
Refugees must apply to be resettled in the United States. They often start the process in refugee camps in other countries closer to where they are fleeing violence or persecution. This process averages five to six years, which is drawn out due to the many government agencies who are connected to the extensive vetting process. Refugee camps are notoriously dangerous and chaotic places; trying to raise and shelter a family who have been traumatized by the danger they are fleeing is not for the faint of heart.
As families apply together, each time they have a child, the process starts all over again. Once families make it into the United States, they will get support from a refugee resettlement agency, who usually gives them about $1,000 per person and sets them up with an apartment, food, and employment. After six months, all government aid is ended and refugees are expected to be self-sufficient.
Texas is one the states with the highest numbers of refugees, and many settle in DFW. Currently, DFW is one of the most challenging cities for public transportation, as the bus system is neither efficient nor reliable. Individuals can spend hours a day commuting to and from school, jobs, and grocery stores, often walking through very unsafe areas. Saving enough to purchase a vehicle, much less, needed household items is challenging due to the fact that most jobs a new foreigner can access are low-paying, even though the applicant may have been a well-educated and skilled professional in the country they left.
In an international hub like DFW, refugees sometimes find communities of people from their home and/or culture and are quick to help each other out. When one person gets a car, they will often offer to drive many members of their community around, not just helping themselves, but also others. In this way, when OnRamp DFW gives an individual a car, we are helping to support an incredibly hard-working and resilient person, who will then give back to their community and help other people on the path to self sufficiency.
Understanding the incredibly hard road refugees have traveled to become neighbors with us is the first step we can take toward building a relationship with such wonderful and diverse people. Reaching out with friendship and understanding, helping with the local processes and customs we are so familiar with, and being a stable place of support are good places to start as we look for ways to “love our neighbors as ourselves”.
