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Old 04-14-2015, 01:20 PM
 
Location: Warminster, PA soon to be in SC, then to FL
106 posts, read 138,528 times
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I am trying to help some friends who have recently immigrated to the USA from Bangladesh. They are currently in the State College/Pittsburgh, PA area but are hoping to find a place to rent (married couple, 3 children). The main issue is that the top of their housing budget is $850/month. Also I think they need mass transit. They are asking for Atlanta City. I think they are assuming that's the lowest cost area, but perhaps there is a better area. Any ideas? If not Atlanta, can someone suggest a part of the USA not horribly far from PA? Thanks for any answers.
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Old 04-14-2015, 01:42 PM
 
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How about Clarkston, GA? it is a suburb of Atlanta, and I am pretty sure there is Bus service there.

There is a large immigrant population there (of all sorts, but it is a magnet for refugees). I say this because I think there will be a support system for immigrants, and lower rents there.

http://clarkstonga.gov/index.php/about/about-clarkston
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Old 04-14-2015, 01:59 PM
 
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No to Clarkston, though they are going to struggle to find affordable housing in a nice area on public transportation on that price point.

Why Atlanta? What kind of employment will they have?
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Old 04-14-2015, 02:06 PM
 
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Why not Clarkston?
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Old 04-14-2015, 02:15 PM
 
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Because Clarkston is for refugees, not people who have $850 per month to spend on rent.

It's a retail desert with access to pretty much nothing that makes this country great and it's full of predators who love to take advantage of immigrants with ridiculous prices on low quality merchandise and rents that while maybe low, are still way too high for what is actually offered.

That's what I think, is that what you were thinking too, lastminutemom?

I would suggest an area like the Buford Highway corridor in Chamblee over Clarkston, or something similar. If mass transit isn't absolutely required, I think they could also find something near Jimmy Carter near Norcross. Lots of immigrants in relatively cheap housing between Jimmy Carter and Indian Trail on both sides of I-85 with better access to decent retail and fewer con artists than Clarkston.
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Old 04-14-2015, 02:16 PM
 
Location: Georgia
4,209 posts, read 4,709,243 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lastminutemom View Post
No to Clarkston, though they are going to struggle to find affordable housing in a nice area on public transportation on that price point.

Why Atlanta? What kind of employment will they have?
I don't think they have the same definition of nice area as you do. I doubt there looking for a Sandy Springs or East Cobb, just something decent. There are many nice places in Atlanta where you won't break the bank. You should start with the Buford Highway area. I'll post some specific apartments later when I have more time.
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Old 04-14-2015, 02:17 PM
 
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I was not aware of the con artists over there. The people I know who have lived there (Mixed families - not refugees) have really enjoyed it, and enjoyed the diversity. But they also worked for a church there that provides support for the refugee community, so I suppose their view is skewed favorably.
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Old 04-14-2015, 02:49 PM
 
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I spent some time recently with students from Freedom Middle and Clarkston High School. It would not be my choice to send children there. The concentration of poverty and other issues is simply to great.

The work question is really important.

Buford Highway would be a better choice -- but the the vast majority of students in the public schools there will be Hispanic, and that may make getting their children's needs met hard. Plus DCSS continually messes with those schools and not in a good way.
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Old 04-14-2015, 03:52 PM
 
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The other question is how old the kids are and what sex they are.

Is it possible to put all the kids together in a room and get away with a 2-bedroom rental, or do they really need a minimum of 3?

The other question is are they refugees? If so, they can get special help from the U.S. government, at least for a certain period.
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Old 04-15-2015, 07:16 PM
 
Location: Warminster, PA soon to be in SC, then to FL
106 posts, read 138,528 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tryska View Post
How about Clarkston, GA? it is a suburb of Atlanta, and I am pretty sure there is Bus service there.

There is a large immigrant population there (of all sorts, but it is a magnet for refugees). I say this because I think there will be a support system for immigrants, and lower rents there.

Clarkston
Tryska, Thanks for the suggestion of Clarkston. I did not yet get to the website in your post, but will check it out asap after I reply to the answers here and tell the family there may be "hope" for them to relo to Atlanta. I am surprised to learn there is a strong area around there for immigrants. Possibly the family knows about this area but does not know the actual location, hence targeting Atlanta. Also they prefer a place near a Walmart. I think at least one spouse wants to try to work there. I will be getting an education in Atlanta geography myself. I lived in Marietta off and on for a few months at a time in the 80's but I think even the town part of Marietta would be too expensive.
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