Refugees come to the United States for protection from persecution and in search of freedom, peace, and opportunity for themselves and their families. The refugee resettlement program helps refugees to establish a new life that is founded on the dignity of economic self-support and encompasses full participation in opportunities which Americans enjoy. Catholic Social Services and Jewish Family Services are the local agencies in Hamilton County that facilitate the resettlement of refugees.
Smooth integration for refugees includes safe and affordable housing options. However, this is not always available to them. A high number of refugees experienced problems accessing services because they are unfamiliar with the customs, cultures and language of the receiving society. Also, there is a shortage of safe, sustainable and affordable housing in Hamilton County.
This thesis will explore these challenges by examining the refugee resettlement program and the housing stock in Hamilton County, the financial constraints of both refugees and refugee providers, and the steps toward successful integration for refugees.
This thesis has generated a number of recommendations for addressing housing issues among refugees and the needs of service providers who work with them. The recommendations are based on level of income, language barriers and coordination of services with service providers for future research.