How the Community Can Help Mitigate the Housing Crisis in Columbus
How US Together Secures Housing for Refugees and Immigrants
By the time refugees arrive in Ohio, US Together has already worked to secure #SafeDecentSanitary housing for them. Ensuring that the refugees we serve have a new home is essential in assisting them as they begin to rebuild their lives in the United States.
Pre-arrival, our Housing Specialist and the client’s case manager from our Reception and Placement team have already worked extensively to visit leasing offices, apply for housing on behalf of the client, schedule furniture delivery around the move-in date, and purchase items to accommodate their basic needs. Their case manager will ensure all finances are taken care of and set up the utilities. Once our Reception and Placement team has picked up the new arrival(s) from the airport, it is time to show them around their new home. Clients will be escorted to the leasing office to explain the terms and conditions of the property, and they will sign off if they agree.
Finding Housing
Each refugee arrival is granted an one time grant amount through the Reception and Placement program. This initial sum is how our clients are able to begin paying their rent. Our clients then are able to enroll in our Matching Grant program, which helps them find a job and achieve economic self-sufficiency months after their arrival. We find our clients are eager to secure employment and provide for themselves and their families. Refugees and immigrants contribute greatly to our economy, as seen in this 2021 report.
When refugees are resettled in Columbus, it is very rare that they will have access to a vehicle. This means that using COTA is vital for job hunting, accessing social services, and going to the grocery store. The location of the potential housing must be located on bus lines. Click here to see if potential locations that could be leased are accessible by public transportation.
Recently, our case managers have been facing many barriers when trying to set up housing for our clients. We have found that leasing offices are often reluctant to sign with our clients due to their international (rather than American) background checks. As these processes may be different than what leasing offices are used to seeing, there can be questions as to the legitimacy and validity of these checks; however, refugees are highly vetted by numerous agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement among others. More information about this extensive and secure process can be found here.
Leasing offices are sometimes also reluctant to lease to our clients as there is often a language gap. US Together provides on demand interpreting services that can help tenants and landlords communicate effectively. Additionally, many refugees enroll in English as a Second Language classes which assists them in expanding their skills.
How You Can Help Refugees in Columbus
Spread the Word
Follow US Together on social media platforms and share posts with the hashtag #SafeDecentSanitary. We will be posting information related to the housing crisis and the challenges refugees face when attempting to acquire housing.
Get Connected
Fill out this quick inquiry form to get updates on how to help on a case-by-case basis. We will connect with all interested parties who fill out this form. Individual conversations will allow us to figure out how we can work together. We are particularly looking for affordable housing alliances, apartment complexes, private landlords, and real estate agencies to offer vacant units looking to be leased on a rolling basis, as well as donation agencies which provide furniture. Recommendations from local residents throughout the Columbus area are highly encouraged as well!
Networking & Partnerships
We are working to develop an apartment catalogue with point of contacts, locations, housing-related costs, etc.
Local residents – provide referrals for localities
Housing Facilities – continuously coordinate upcoming arrivals list with housing facilitates
Donation Facilities – Coordinate all forms of furniture/items listed on Housing Basic Needs Checklist to lessen client cost
Make a Donation
Reference our New Refugee Arrival Set-Up (image below) and provide furniture or other household items that are #SafeDecentSanitary
Set up a donation drive at your school, church, or other local group! Individuals can bring in items that may no longer be of use to them but are still safe, decent, and sanitary! If you are buying items to donate them, please keep the price tag and/or receipt. This is needed for reporting our donations.
