Iraqi refugees face poverty, eviction in US: study

Thousands of Iraqi refugees resettled in the United States are living in poverty and facing homelessness as they struggle to rebuild their lives amid the recession, a study by a humanitarian aid group found. More than 19,000 Iraqis have been resettled in the United States since 2007 under a program that prioritizes especially vulnerable refugees, including former U.S. government employees and religious minorities, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The study by the International Rescue Committee, released on Tuesday, said the U.S. government refugee resettlement program is "dangerously underfunded," and no longer met the basic needs of newly arriving refugees. Under the current system, a one-time federal stipend of $900 is provided for each refugee, the IRC said. The grant generally fails to cover immediate needs, including rent, clothing and household supplies. The report, based in interviews with Iraqis, healthcare providers, employers, teachers and state officials in Phoenix and Atlanta in April, said refugees' problems were exacerbated by the economic slump, which made it more difficult for them to find jobs to support themselves. "We're finding out with the downturn in the economy ... we're not able to find those entry-level jobs for refugees, or if we are, it's taking a longer time," said Bob Carey, the IRC's vice president for resettlement and migration policy. "Many are on the verge of homelessness. They have received eviction notices from their landlords, they are months behind in their rent," Carey told Reuters by telephone. More than 4 million Iraqis were displaced by the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. While many have returned home, the UNHCR said this month the country remains too fragile to absorb the 1.5 million refugees still living outside its borders. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama pledged to provide more assistance to countries hosting Iraqi refugees, and promised cooperation to resettle Iraqis facing great personal risk from the conflict. The IRC report urged Congress to provide emergency funds to refugees facing eviction and ensure that grants for new arrivals keep pace with the cost of living. It also called for cash assistance to be made available to more refugees, and for the time frame during which they can access services to be extended.