Refugee Resettlement
County readies aid for Afghan arrivals
By Howard Schmidt
November 2021
Sacramento County taxpayers will assist Afghan refugees with a $5 million contingency fund set up by the Board of Supervisors, but only if federal authorities fail to come through with aid.
The fund reflects the county’s belief that numerous refugees will resettle here. Sacramento County is home to one of the largest Afghan immigrant populations in the U.S. Many live in unincorporated areas of Arden Arcade.
County Executive Ann Edwards says many new arrivals will be non-special visa holders with limited language skills, facing hardships due to cultural challenges. Those refugees may not receive the same federal assistance given to special visa holders.
Federal funding is available to assist special visa holders in transition. Special visa holders often speak English and are familiar with American lifestyles.
Five local nonprofit agencies provide resettlement services, which include securing housing and benefits. Edwards estimates the number of newcomers “could be as large as 20,000.”
Supervisor Rich Desmond is concerned about the impact. He notes many refugees already here experience “subsistence living” due to the housing crisis and cost of living.
Supervisor Sue Frost says resettlement poses a challenge since there is “not enough housing for the homeless.”
Edwards believes Sacramento will receive federal funds based on recognition of how refugees impact local communities. She has tried to assure the supervisors that the feds are “working really hard” on the funding issue.
The board authorized the $5 million contingency fund in case federal support falls short. The money won’t be tapped unless needed.
To help the community understand the situation, Desmond held a webinar discussion. Panelists included representatives from county departments assisting refugees, San Juan Unified School District and Lao Family Development Center, a resettlement agency.
The goal is to get newcomers permanently settled and self-sufficient within 90 days, says resettlement official Kathy Chao Rothberg. That covers meeting them at the airport, finding an apartment, and providing orientation about being a tenant and living in Sacramento. Resettlement agencies assist in obtaining state identification and vaccinations, and getting children enrolled in school. They also help with employment training for adults.
Shafiullah Hotak, a refugee who came to Arden Arcade in 2014 after working for the U.S. military, believes most newcomers can’t make it within such a short period. “It is important for them to have a family tie to help,” he says, noting he needed eight months.
The San Juan Unified School District has seen an increase of immigrant enrollees jump from 4,500 in 2015 to around 6,000.
How can local residents help? Hotak says meeting refugees with a smile and a welcoming greeting is an excellent start.
Howard Schmidt has worked on the federal, state and local levels of government, including 16 years for Sacramento County. He can be reached at howardschmidt218@aol.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
