What's the Refugee Situation in N. New England? (Manchester, Concord: income, living)

[JMadison]

I saw an article somewhere saying that Somali refugees are rapidly increasing in number in NH and Maine these days.

(Or is it "again"? Seems this was a topic a few years ago when many Somalis picked New Hampshire over Atlanta.)

Is it a reality like over in Minneapolis/St. Paul or an over reaction?

<Later>

Just tripped over this quote:

"The past few years have seen exponential growth in the Somali community in greater New Hampshire. In response to community need, the Somali Development Center established SDC Manchester on April 2005."

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by JMadison

I saw an article somewhere saying that Somali refugees are rapidly increasing in number in NH and Maine these days.

(Or is it "again"? Seems this was a topic a few years ago when many Somalis picked New Hampshire over Atlanta.)

Is it a reality like over in Minneapolis/St. Paul or an over reaction?

<Later>

Just tripped over this quote:

"The past few years have seen exponential growth in the Somali community in greater New Hampshire. In response to community need, the Somali Development Center established SDC Manchester on April 2005."

Somalis are mostly in the Twin Cities area and Lewiston, ME area. I think ME and MN are "safe havens" for these international refugees?

[nicolem]

Manchester, Concord and Laconia all have growing refugee populations from Somalia, Bhutan and Iraq. I believe the Sommersworth area has a growing Somali population as well. The International Institute out of Manchester along with local churches resettle these refugees around the state but mostly in these three cities.

[maestramommy]

It puzzles me that they'd pick NH over someplace like Atlanta. Is it because the cost of living is lower? I would think the change in climate would be really harsh for them.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by maestramommy

It puzzles me that they'd pick NH over someplace like Atlanta. Is it because the cost of living is lower? I would think the change in climate would be really harsh for them.

Initally, for the most part, the refugees don't pick where they go. The US government instructs the state-you are taking x number of refugees a year. In the case of NH, most are sent to the International Institute in Manchester and the churches and they decide where in NH they go.

[NXC9900]

nicolem is right they don't get a choice in where they are settled. the churches place them whereever they have "openings"

buffalo had a very large and expanding sudanese, somali, bhutanese population... they were brought over by the world catholic organization and settled in buffalo. I worked w/a family and asked them wtf they'd come to buffalo and were told they didn'thave a choice and couldn't really move b/c they didn't have the income to re-settle elsewhere.

[NXC9900]

nicolem is right they don't get a choice in where they are settled. the churches place them whereever they have "openings"

buffalo had a very large and expanding sudanese, somali, bhutanese population... they were brought over by the world catholic organization and settled in buffalo. I worked w/a family and asked them wtf they'd come to buffalo and were told they didn'thave a choice and couldn't really move b/c they didn't have the income to re-settle elsewhere.

[MCPatrick1970]

Muslims do not integrate well. Just ask Europe (soon to be Eurabia). Christians will never understand that Muslims do not like them and in Muslim countries, Christians must live as second class citizens. Some people are just to naive to see this though.

[grimstuff]

Originally Posted by MCPatrick1970

Muslims do not integrate well. Just ask Europe (soon to be Eurabia). Christians will never understand that Muslims do not like them and in Muslim countries, Christians must live as second class citizens. Some people are just to naive to see this though.

I think your comment is a little over-generalizing. Sure, there are some integration problems in Europe here and there, doesn't mean that's the way it has to be, or that all Muslims hate Christians, just as all Christians don't hate Muslims. I tend to believe the media makes more out of this than necessary, since it's a hot-button issue that gets people passionate.

[maestramommy]

Originally Posted by grimstuff

I think your comment is a little over-generalizing. Sure, there are some integration problems in Europe here and there, doesn't mean that's the way it has to be, or that all Muslims hate Christians, just as all Christians don't hate Muslims. I tend to believe the media makes more out of this than necessary, since it's a hot-button issue that gets people passionate.

I agree. I think in general Muslims get along just fine with Christians, Jews, and everyone else. It's the media that makes a huge deal out of extreme cases. Not to say there aren't problems, because I'm sure there are. But your comment was a blanket statement that leaves out a LOT of people.