SF2270, the Refugee Family Support Services Bill in the Iowa legislature, is a pilot project that trains and empowers refugee community leaders and increases access to existing services such as: housing, transportation, healthcare, schools, welfare, and employment.  In effect, these community leaders will receive training in these priority service areas and then transfer the knowledge to their communities.  This is an urgent need since an estimated 10,000 refugees have made Iowa their home in just the past 5 years. 

Resettlement has changed substantially since the 1970s when former Governor Ray welcomed Southeast Asian refugees with over 3 years of support and sponsorship.  Today, refugees who have languished in camps for decades are given only 90 days of basic services.  In Des Moines, residents are speaking over 80 different languages, making it difficult to navigate existing services. This has left many Iowa communities with an influx of refugees who are in desperate need of help.  For example, 800 Chin refugees from Burma have resettled in Columbus Junction (pop. 3,500) in the past 3 years.

Refugees are a big part of the entry-level workforce in many meat processing plants and other manufacturing industries throughout Iowa.  However, with little to no support, language and cultural barriers, many families are unable to meet their basic human needs.  They are one of the most vulnerable, often exploited and largely invisible communities in Iowa.  This project will increase access to critically needed resources to help Iowa’s refugee newcomers become self-sufficient, while empowering and growing leaders within their own communities.  This program is designed to build upon the existing strengths and capacities of the refugees to enable them to be active participants in the creation of their own American Dream.

We are fully committed to helping and supporting our community.  This project will benefit refugee families and all Iowans.

 We urge you to support SF2270.