APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Afghan refugees are beginning to resettle all across the country, nearly three months since fleeing the Taliban takeover. Hundreds are expected to resettle here in Wisconsin, and some already have.
Hundreds are expected to resettle here in Wisconsin, and some already have.
World Relief Fox Valley is just one agency finding homes for Afghan families in Wisconsin.
“There is nothing so gratifying to see when they walk into a home and realize ‘I’m settled, I can start moving forward, start living my life’ and that’s been a really great experience also to just see that relief,” said Tami McLaughlin, director for World Relief Fox Valley.
McLaughlin tells FOX 11 World Relief Fox Valley has already re-settled six families across the Fox Valley area.
“We have a couple large families, one family of three, one of four, all different and all varying in size.”
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan is also working to resettle families. The group has re-settled two families, totaling nine people in the Greater Milwaukee area.
Both agencies are preparing to help settle 200 individuals. However, there is a push to move refugees from bases across the country to homes in Wisconsin.
“Refugee resettlement is always a hurry up and wait situation,” said Mary Flynn, a program manager for LSS. “There’s often a big push to do things quickly and then it gets tempered the very next day, but we will resettle the cases we’ve received requests to.”
Both groups say they are in dire need to secure housing for refugee families.
“if we have sufficient adequate and affordable housing, we can do anything. that is our biggest challenge,” said Flynn.
“We’re not asking for financial concessions, we’re asking for process concessions,” said McLaughlin. “Evacuees don’t come with credit history, they don’t come with employment history, yet we’re going to walk alongside them until they get good jobs and become self sufficient.”
Refugees are provided a stipend from the U.S. government to assist with resettling.
Both World Relief Fox Valley and Lutheran Social Services are accepting monetary donations as well. The groups say this will assist in covering portions of rent.
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