Afghan Evacuees Life In The Us Is Not What They Expected

“The floor is very dangerous,” Sheila tells CNN as she tries to comfort the 2-year-old and get him to put a bandage over the wound. The carpet was torn up after a flood this week, exposing staples and nails on the floor. This is not what the 23-year-old expected a year ago when she left Kabul. Shila, who asked to be identified only by her first name and not be identified to protect her family, is one of more than 75,000 Afghans brought to the United States last year as part of Operation Allies Welcome. She worked as a sergeant in a U.S.-trained special forces wing of the Afghan Air Force and says she received a text message warning from her unit commander after the Taliban took over: “Hide somewhere or get out of the country. ” It’s been a year of uncertainty, she says, and just three months since a relocation agency put her in this one-bedroom apartment with her sister and nephew. It has already flooded twice in heavy rains. The apartment complex management removed the carpet and promised to replace it once the floor was dry, says Shila. Many of the few things they had acquired since arriving in the US were damaged or destroyed. And this is only one of the many problems that weigh on her. Amid the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, evacuation flights that brought people to safety in what administration officials described as “the largest airlift in history” were a glimmer of hope for many. Translators, Afghan veterans, aid workers, journalists, women’s rights activists and others allied with the US military effort in Afghanistan were among those on board. “Once they are screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans, who have helped the war effort for the past 20 years, in their new home in the United States of America,” President Biden said in an August 2021 speech at the White House. “Because that’s who we are. This is America.” But a year later, advocates say some Afghans brought to the United States are still struggling to find their feet. Housing is a major area of ​​concern as rents in the US have skyrocketed and a growing number of Afghans can’t find affordable places to live or, like Shila, find themselves in worsening conditions. Joseph Azam, who chairs the board of the Afghan American Foundation, calls it a crisis. “People came here with the understanding that they could have a house here and live a life…and that didn’t happen. Instead, they’ve joined this boat of trying to get affordable housing in the US, which is a big problem,” he says. “Really, they’re setting themselves up to fail.”

State Department says teams are working around the clock to help displaced Afghans

Zuhal Bahaduri leads outreach efforts to help Afghans arriving in northern California. And she says the words of an Afghan translator stick with her. She met him at an extended-stay hotel in California, where he had been living in limbo for months, waiting for permanent housing. Bahaduri says the translator told her he had worked with the US military and now felt the US government was not doing enough to support him. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘I’ve never felt so disrespected in my life,’” Bahaduri says. “He felt like he lost his dignity.” Community groups like her, the 5ive Pillars Organization, have stepped in to help refugee resettlement agencies find affordable housing for Afghan families and connect them with job opportunities. However, “many of them are placed in homes they can’t afford,” he says, “and when that happens, their struggles continue.” Asked to respond to advocates’ concerns about housing, the State Department says special teams have been working around the clock to help Afghans start new lives in the United States. When possible, Afghans have been resettled in areas that have “reasonable and available housing,” the department says. And they may be eligible for emergency housing assistance and other benefits. In parts of the country with a high cost of living, such as Sacramento, officials placed only Afghans who joined immediate family there “due to the extreme lack of available, affordable housing,” the department says. “Some Afghans may choose to move to areas like this on their own, but are being widely advised not to, given the severity of the housing crisis.” “The resettlement of tens of thousands of newly displaced Afghans in less than five months would not really have been possible without the dedication, perseverance and sheer willpower of local resettlement service staff and other partners, as well as the amazing support from local communities – – whether as volunteers, sponsoring groups, employers or simply welcoming new Afghan neighbors into their daily lives,” the department says. While the availability of affordable housing remains a concern, a recent government survey of resettlement agencies found that 97 percent of Afghans served by respondents are now in permanent housing, “a truly remarkable result,” says a State Department spokesman. And the spokesman says the majority of Afghans eligible for work have also found work. But some community organizations that help Afghans adjust to life in the United States say that’s only part of the picture. They argue that the government can — and should — do more to help. “I have a lot of sleepless nights,” says Yaqub Zargarpur, who chairs the board of the Muslim League of Virginia and the Dar Alnoor Mosque. The mosque is helping a growing number of Afghans asking for help paying their rent, he says, but available funds are limited. “In another 3-4 months, many people will be evicted… The crisis is real. These people will be homeless,” says Zargarpur.

She struggles to care for her mother, who has severe asthma

It’s a fear that haunts 25-year-old Sodaba, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her mom in northern California and struggles to afford it. She says her dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed in an instant when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. In the US, he thought he would find hope. But for different reasons, she also fears for her future in this country. “I’m afraid I’ll be stuck. I won’t be able to improve my English. I won’t be able to go to school. … I thought I would get more help,” she told CNN through an interpreter, asking to be identified only by her first name and refusing to share a photo of herself to protect her family. Already this month, he has failed to pay the full rent of $1,558. Sodaba says she worries about paying rent all the time and tries to work, but is afraid to leave her mom — who has severe asthma — alone for too long. Already her mom has been hospitalized three times since their December arrival in California. So Sodaba says she works as much as she can — about 14 hours a week placing items in the Burlington retailer. Sodaba still lights up when she talks about the Marines she met while at a camp temporarily housing Afghan evacuees last year in Quantico, Virginia. The Marines’ dedication to helping the Afghans surprised her. She felt optimistic during those months in the camp. But she says trying to make it on her own in America has filled her with stress and anxiety. “It’s very difficult. There’s a lot of pressure on me. I’m really worried,” she says. “But I have no choice but to move on.”

The lack of affordable housing is not the only problem facing Afghans in the US

Advocates say the high cost of housing is far from the only problem facing many Afghan displaced people in the US. Add to these the challenges of finding well-paying jobs, difficulties with language and transportation, and overwhelming fears for family members left behind in Afghanistan. On top of all that, advocates say many also face uncertainty about their future in this country because Congress has yet to pass a law that would give them a path to permanent residency. That’s something the Biden administration has pushed for, and something supporters describe as a critical step that has been overlooked for too long. “It just compounds itself. All these different issues seem like small things, but they add up very quickly,” says Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant Refugee & Outreach Center (IROC), an organization that has been helping Afghan evacuees in the DC area. For Sultan Mahmoud Goya, an Afghan displaced in northern California, finding work to support his family is a growing concern. He just found out that his wife is pregnant with their third child and that in a few months they will have to leave the apartment where they were living rent-free. Goya has multiple sclerosis and says he had to quit his job at a juice shop because he couldn’t spend so many hours on his feet. “I believe a man’s character is defined through his hard work. and right now I’m in despair,” he told CNN through a translator, “because I don’t know what will happen to my family and where we’re going. to stay if I don’t have sure job.” In addition to worries about flooding in her apartment, Shila says she faces an even more pressing concern: She was recently robbed of food stamps and cash assistance — a problem that advocates say is increasingly common and affects many Afghan displaced people in Maryland, where CNN affiliate WMAR reported that scammers have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of benefits from families across the state. Flores says it looks like they’re being hacked. And as theft reports increase, Flores says her agency is getting a steady stream of requests for emergency grocery deliveries. “They’re basically calling in desperation, saying, ‘Can you help us with food? I need formula for…

title: “Afghan Evacuees Life In The Us Is Not What They Expected Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Melvin Taylor”

“The floor is very dangerous,” Sheila tells CNN as she tries to comfort the 2-year-old and get him to put a bandage over the wound. The carpet was torn up after a flood this week, exposing staples and nails on the floor. This is not what the 23-year-old expected a year ago when she left Kabul. Shila, who asked to be identified only by her first name and not be identified to protect her family, is one of more than 75,000 Afghans brought to the United States last year as part of Operation Allies Welcome. She worked as a sergeant in a U.S.-trained special forces wing of the Afghan Air Force and says she received a text message warning from her unit commander after the Taliban took over: “Hide somewhere or get out of the country. ” It’s been a year of uncertainty, she says, and just three months since a relocation agency put her in this one-bedroom apartment with her sister and nephew. It has already flooded twice in heavy rains. The apartment complex management removed the carpet and promised to replace it once the floor was dry, says Shila. Many of the few things they had acquired since arriving in the US were damaged or destroyed. And this is only one of the many problems that weigh on her. Amid the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, evacuation flights that brought people to safety in what administration officials described as “the largest airlift in history” were a glimmer of hope for many. Translators, Afghan veterans, aid workers, journalists, women’s rights activists and others allied with the US military effort in Afghanistan were among those on board. “Once they are screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans, who have helped the war effort for the past 20 years, in their new home in the United States of America,” President Biden said in an August 2021 speech at the White House. “Because that’s who we are. This is America.” But a year later, advocates say some Afghans brought to the United States are still struggling to find their feet. Housing is a major area of ​​concern as rents in the US have skyrocketed and a growing number of Afghans can’t find affordable places to live or, like Shila, find themselves in worsening conditions. Joseph Azam, who chairs the board of the Afghan American Foundation, calls it a crisis. “People came here with the understanding that they could have a house here and live a life…and that didn’t happen. Instead, they’ve joined this boat of trying to get affordable housing in the US, which is a big problem,” he says. “Really, they’re setting themselves up to fail.”

State Department says teams are working around the clock to help displaced Afghans

Zuhal Bahaduri leads outreach efforts to help Afghans arriving in northern California. And she says the words of an Afghan translator stick with her. She met him at an extended-stay hotel in California, where he had been living in limbo for months, waiting for permanent housing. Bahaduri says the translator told her he had worked with the US military and now felt the US government was not doing enough to support him. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘I’ve never felt so disrespected in my life,’” Bahaduri says. “He felt like he lost his dignity.” Community groups like her, the 5ive Pillars Organization, have stepped in to help refugee resettlement agencies find affordable housing for Afghan families and connect them with job opportunities. However, “many of them are placed in homes they can’t afford,” he says, “and when that happens, their struggles continue.” Asked to respond to advocates’ concerns about housing, the State Department says special teams have been working around the clock to help Afghans start new lives in the United States. When possible, Afghans have been resettled in areas that have “reasonable and available housing,” the department says. And they may be eligible for emergency housing assistance and other benefits. In parts of the country with a high cost of living, such as Sacramento, officials placed only Afghans who joined immediate family there “due to the extreme lack of available, affordable housing,” the department says. “Some Afghans may choose to move to areas like this on their own, but are being widely advised not to, given the severity of the housing crisis.” “The resettlement of tens of thousands of newly displaced Afghans in less than five months would not really have been possible without the dedication, perseverance and sheer willpower of local resettlement service staff and other partners, as well as the amazing support from local communities – – whether as volunteers, sponsoring groups, employers or simply welcoming new Afghan neighbors into their daily lives,” the department says. While the availability of affordable housing remains a concern, a recent government survey of resettlement agencies found that 97 percent of Afghans served by respondents are now in permanent housing, “a truly remarkable result,” says a State Department spokesman. And the spokesman says the majority of Afghans eligible for work have also found work. But some community organizations that help Afghans adjust to life in the United States say that’s only part of the picture. They argue that the government can — and should — do more to help. “I have a lot of sleepless nights,” says Yaqub Zargarpur, who chairs the board of the Muslim League of Virginia and the Dar Alnoor Mosque. The mosque is helping a growing number of Afghans asking for help paying their rent, he says, but available funds are limited. “In another 3-4 months, many people will be evicted… The crisis is real. These people will be homeless,” says Zargarpur.

She struggles to care for her mother, who has severe asthma

It’s a fear that haunts 25-year-old Sodaba, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her mom in northern California and struggles to afford it. She says her dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed in an instant when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. In the US, he thought he would find hope. But for different reasons, she also fears for her future in this country. “I’m afraid I’ll be stuck. I won’t be able to improve my English. I won’t be able to go to school. … I thought I would get more help,” she told CNN through an interpreter, asking to be identified only by her first name and refusing to share a photo of herself to protect her family. Already this month, he has failed to pay the full rent of $1,558. Sodaba says she worries about paying rent all the time and tries to work, but is afraid to leave her mom — who has severe asthma — alone for too long. Already her mom has been hospitalized three times since their December arrival in California. So Sodaba says she works as much as she can — about 14 hours a week placing items in the Burlington retailer. Sodaba still lights up when she talks about the Marines she met while at a camp temporarily housing Afghan evacuees last year in Quantico, Virginia. The Marines’ dedication to helping the Afghans surprised her. She felt optimistic during those months in the camp. But she says trying to make it on her own in America has filled her with stress and anxiety. “It’s very difficult. There’s a lot of pressure on me. I’m really worried,” she says. “But I have no choice but to move on.”

The lack of affordable housing is not the only problem facing Afghans in the US

Advocates say the high cost of housing is far from the only problem facing many Afghan displaced people in the US. Add to these the challenges of finding well-paying jobs, difficulties with language and transportation, and overwhelming fears for family members left behind in Afghanistan. On top of all that, advocates say many also face uncertainty about their future in this country because Congress has yet to pass a law that would give them a path to permanent residency. That’s something the Biden administration has pushed for, and something supporters describe as a critical step that has been overlooked for too long. “It just compounds itself. All these different issues seem like small things, but they add up very quickly,” says Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant Refugee & Outreach Center (IROC), an organization that has been helping Afghan evacuees in the DC area. For Sultan Mahmoud Goya, an Afghan displaced in northern California, finding work to support his family is a growing concern. He just found out that his wife is pregnant with their third child and that in a few months they will have to leave the apartment where they were living rent-free. Goya has multiple sclerosis and says he had to quit his job at a juice shop because he couldn’t spend so many hours on his feet. “I believe a man’s character is defined through his hard work. and right now I’m in despair,” he told CNN through a translator, “because I don’t know what will happen to my family and where we’re going. to stay if I don’t have sure job.” In addition to worries about flooding in her apartment, Shila says she faces an even more pressing concern: She was recently robbed of food stamps and cash assistance — a problem that advocates say is increasingly common and affects many Afghan displaced people in Maryland, where CNN affiliate WMAR reported that scammers have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of benefits from families across the state. Flores says it looks like they’re being hacked. And as theft reports increase, Flores says her agency is getting a steady stream of requests for emergency grocery deliveries. “They’re basically calling in desperation, saying, ‘Can you help us with food? I need formula for…

title: “Afghan Evacuees Life In The Us Is Not What They Expected Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Edmond Stout”

“The floor is very dangerous,” Sheila tells CNN as she tries to comfort the 2-year-old and get him to put a bandage over the wound. The carpet was torn up after a flood this week, exposing staples and nails on the floor. This is not what the 23-year-old expected a year ago when she left Kabul. Shila, who asked to be identified only by her first name and not be identified to protect her family, is one of more than 75,000 Afghans brought to the United States last year as part of Operation Allies Welcome. She worked as a sergeant in a U.S.-trained special forces wing of the Afghan Air Force and says she received a text message warning from her unit commander after the Taliban took over: “Hide somewhere or get out of the country. ” It’s been a year of uncertainty, she says, and just three months since a relocation agency put her in this one-bedroom apartment with her sister and nephew. It has already flooded twice in heavy rains. The apartment complex management removed the carpet and promised to replace it once the floor was dry, says Shila. Many of the few things they had acquired since arriving in the US were damaged or destroyed. And this is only one of the many problems that weigh on her. Amid the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, evacuation flights that brought people to safety in what administration officials described as “the largest airlift in history” were a glimmer of hope for many. Translators, Afghan veterans, aid workers, journalists, women’s rights activists and others allied with the US military effort in Afghanistan were among those on board. “Once they are screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans, who have helped the war effort for the past 20 years, in their new home in the United States of America,” President Biden said in an August 2021 speech at the White House. “Because that’s who we are. This is America.” But a year later, advocates say some Afghans brought to the United States are still struggling to find their feet. Housing is a major area of ​​concern as rents in the US have skyrocketed and a growing number of Afghans can’t find affordable places to live or, like Shila, find themselves in worsening conditions. Joseph Azam, who chairs the board of the Afghan American Foundation, calls it a crisis. “People came here with the understanding that they could have a house here and live a life…and that didn’t happen. Instead, they’ve joined this boat of trying to get affordable housing in the US, which is a big problem,” he says. “Really, they’re setting themselves up to fail.”

State Department says teams are working around the clock to help displaced Afghans

Zuhal Bahaduri leads outreach efforts to help Afghans arriving in northern California. And she says the words of an Afghan translator stick with her. She met him at an extended-stay hotel in California, where he had been living in limbo for months, waiting for permanent housing. Bahaduri says the translator told her he had worked with the US military and now felt the US government was not doing enough to support him. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘I’ve never felt so disrespected in my life,’” Bahaduri says. “He felt like he lost his dignity.” Community groups like her, the 5ive Pillars Organization, have stepped in to help refugee resettlement agencies find affordable housing for Afghan families and connect them with job opportunities. However, “many of them are placed in homes they can’t afford,” he says, “and when that happens, their struggles continue.” Asked to respond to advocates’ concerns about housing, the State Department says special teams have been working around the clock to help Afghans start new lives in the United States. When possible, Afghans have been resettled in areas that have “reasonable and available housing,” the department says. And they may be eligible for emergency housing assistance and other benefits. In parts of the country with a high cost of living, such as Sacramento, officials placed only Afghans who joined immediate family there “due to the extreme lack of available, affordable housing,” the department says. “Some Afghans may choose to move to areas like this on their own, but are being widely advised not to, given the severity of the housing crisis.” “The resettlement of tens of thousands of newly displaced Afghans in less than five months would not really have been possible without the dedication, perseverance and sheer willpower of local resettlement service staff and other partners, as well as the amazing support from local communities – – whether as volunteers, sponsoring groups, employers or simply welcoming new Afghan neighbors into their daily lives,” the department says. While the availability of affordable housing remains a concern, a recent government survey of resettlement agencies found that 97 percent of Afghans served by respondents are now in permanent housing, “a truly remarkable result,” says a State Department spokesman. And the spokesman says the majority of Afghans eligible for work have also found work. But some community organizations that help Afghans adjust to life in the United States say that’s only part of the picture. They argue that the government can — and should — do more to help. “I have a lot of sleepless nights,” says Yaqub Zargarpur, who chairs the board of the Muslim League of Virginia and the Dar Alnoor Mosque. The mosque is helping a growing number of Afghans asking for help paying their rent, he says, but available funds are limited. “In another 3-4 months, many people will be evicted… The crisis is real. These people will be homeless,” says Zargarpur.

She struggles to care for her mother, who has severe asthma

It’s a fear that haunts 25-year-old Sodaba, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her mom in northern California and struggles to afford it. She says her dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed in an instant when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. In the US, he thought he would find hope. But for different reasons, she also fears for her future in this country. “I’m afraid I’ll be stuck. I won’t be able to improve my English. I won’t be able to go to school. … I thought I would get more help,” she told CNN through an interpreter, asking to be identified only by her first name and refusing to share a photo of herself to protect her family. Already this month, he has failed to pay the full rent of $1,558. Sodaba says she worries about paying rent all the time and tries to work, but is afraid to leave her mom — who has severe asthma — alone for too long. Already her mom has been hospitalized three times since their December arrival in California. So Sodaba says she works as much as she can — about 14 hours a week placing items in the Burlington retailer. Sodaba still lights up when she talks about the Marines she met while at a camp temporarily housing Afghan evacuees last year in Quantico, Virginia. The Marines’ dedication to helping the Afghans surprised her. She felt optimistic during those months in the camp. But she says trying to make it on her own in America has filled her with stress and anxiety. “It’s very difficult. There’s a lot of pressure on me. I’m really worried,” she says. “But I have no choice but to move on.”

The lack of affordable housing is not the only problem facing Afghans in the US

Advocates say the high cost of housing is far from the only problem facing many Afghan displaced people in the US. Add to these the challenges of finding well-paying jobs, difficulties with language and transportation, and overwhelming fears for family members left behind in Afghanistan. On top of all that, advocates say many also face uncertainty about their future in this country because Congress has yet to pass a law that would give them a path to permanent residency. That’s something the Biden administration has pushed for, and something supporters describe as a critical step that has been overlooked for too long. “It just compounds itself. All these different issues seem like small things, but they add up very quickly,” says Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant Refugee & Outreach Center (IROC), an organization that has been helping Afghan evacuees in the DC area. For Sultan Mahmoud Goya, an Afghan displaced in northern California, finding work to support his family is a growing concern. He just found out that his wife is pregnant with their third child and that in a few months they will have to leave the apartment where they were living rent-free. Goya has multiple sclerosis and says he had to quit his job at a juice shop because he couldn’t spend so many hours on his feet. “I believe a man’s character is defined through his hard work. and right now I’m in despair,” he told CNN through a translator, “because I don’t know what will happen to my family and where we’re going. to stay if I don’t have sure job.” In addition to worries about flooding in her apartment, Shila says she faces an even more pressing concern: She was recently robbed of food stamps and cash assistance — a problem that advocates say is increasingly common and affects many Afghan displaced people in Maryland, where CNN affiliate WMAR reported that scammers have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of benefits from families across the state. Flores says it looks like they’re being hacked. And as theft reports increase, Flores says her agency is getting a steady stream of requests for emergency grocery deliveries. “They’re basically calling in desperation, saying, ‘Can you help us with food? I need formula for…

title: “Afghan Evacuees Life In The Us Is Not What They Expected Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-23” author: “Esther Boone”

“The floor is very dangerous,” Sheila tells CNN as she tries to comfort the 2-year-old and get him to put a bandage over the wound. The carpet was torn up after a flood this week, exposing staples and nails on the floor. This is not what the 23-year-old expected a year ago when she left Kabul. Shila, who asked to be identified only by her first name and not be identified to protect her family, is one of more than 75,000 Afghans brought to the United States last year as part of Operation Allies Welcome. She worked as a sergeant in a U.S.-trained special forces wing of the Afghan Air Force and says she received a text message warning from her unit commander after the Taliban took over: “Hide somewhere or get out of the country. ” It’s been a year of uncertainty, she says, and just three months since a relocation agency put her in this one-bedroom apartment with her sister and nephew. It has already flooded twice in heavy rains. The apartment complex management removed the carpet and promised to replace it once the floor was dry, says Shila. Many of the few things they had acquired since arriving in the US were damaged or destroyed. And this is only one of the many problems that weigh on her. Amid the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, evacuation flights that brought people to safety in what administration officials described as “the largest airlift in history” were a glimmer of hope for many. Translators, Afghan veterans, aid workers, journalists, women’s rights activists and others allied with the US military effort in Afghanistan were among those on board. “Once they are screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans, who have helped the war effort for the past 20 years, in their new home in the United States of America,” President Biden said in an August 2021 speech at the White House. “Because that’s who we are. This is America.” But a year later, advocates say some Afghans brought to the United States are still struggling to find their feet. Housing is a major area of ​​concern as rents in the US have skyrocketed and a growing number of Afghans can’t find affordable places to live or, like Shila, find themselves in worsening conditions. Joseph Azam, who chairs the board of the Afghan American Foundation, calls it a crisis. “People came here with the understanding that they could have a house here and live a life…and that didn’t happen. Instead, they’ve joined this boat of trying to get affordable housing in the US, which is a big problem,” he says. “Really, they’re setting themselves up to fail.”

State Department says teams are working around the clock to help displaced Afghans

Zuhal Bahaduri leads outreach efforts to help Afghans arriving in northern California. And she says the words of an Afghan translator stick with her. She met him at an extended-stay hotel in California, where he had been living in limbo for months, waiting for permanent housing. Bahaduri says the translator told her he had worked with the US military and now felt the US government was not doing enough to support him. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘I’ve never felt so disrespected in my life,’” Bahaduri says. “He felt like he lost his dignity.” Community groups like her, the 5ive Pillars Organization, have stepped in to help refugee resettlement agencies find affordable housing for Afghan families and connect them with job opportunities. However, “many of them are placed in homes they can’t afford,” he says, “and when that happens, their struggles continue.” Asked to respond to advocates’ concerns about housing, the State Department says special teams have been working around the clock to help Afghans start new lives in the United States. When possible, Afghans have been resettled in areas that have “reasonable and available housing,” the department says. And they may be eligible for emergency housing assistance and other benefits. In parts of the country with a high cost of living, such as Sacramento, officials placed only Afghans who joined immediate family there “due to the extreme lack of available, affordable housing,” the department says. “Some Afghans may choose to move to areas like this on their own, but are being widely advised not to, given the severity of the housing crisis.” “The resettlement of tens of thousands of newly displaced Afghans in less than five months would not really have been possible without the dedication, perseverance and sheer willpower of local resettlement service staff and other partners, as well as the amazing support from local communities – – whether as volunteers, sponsoring groups, employers or simply welcoming new Afghan neighbors into their daily lives,” the department says. While the availability of affordable housing remains a concern, a recent government survey of resettlement agencies found that 97 percent of Afghans served by respondents are now in permanent housing, “a truly remarkable result,” says a State Department spokesman. And the spokesman says the majority of Afghans eligible for work have also found work. But some community organizations that help Afghans adjust to life in the United States say that’s only part of the picture. They argue that the government can — and should — do more to help. “I have a lot of sleepless nights,” says Yaqub Zargarpur, who chairs the board of the Muslim League of Virginia and the Dar Alnoor Mosque. The mosque is helping a growing number of Afghans asking for help paying their rent, he says, but available funds are limited. “In another 3-4 months, many people will be evicted… The crisis is real. These people will be homeless,” says Zargarpur.

She struggles to care for her mother, who has severe asthma

It’s a fear that haunts 25-year-old Sodaba, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her mom in northern California and struggles to afford it. She says her dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed in an instant when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. In the US, he thought he would find hope. But for different reasons, she also fears for her future in this country. “I’m afraid I’ll be stuck. I won’t be able to improve my English. I won’t be able to go to school. … I thought I would get more help,” she told CNN through an interpreter, asking to be identified only by her first name and refusing to share a photo of herself to protect her family. Already this month, he has failed to pay the full rent of $1,558. Sodaba says she worries about paying rent all the time and tries to work, but is afraid to leave her mom — who has severe asthma — alone for too long. Already her mom has been hospitalized three times since their December arrival in California. So Sodaba says she works as much as she can — about 14 hours a week placing items in the Burlington retailer. Sodaba still lights up when she talks about the Marines she met while at a camp temporarily housing Afghan evacuees last year in Quantico, Virginia. The Marines’ dedication to helping the Afghans surprised her. She felt optimistic during those months in the camp. But she says trying to make it on her own in America has filled her with stress and anxiety. “It’s very difficult. There’s a lot of pressure on me. I’m really worried,” she says. “But I have no choice but to move on.”

The lack of affordable housing is not the only problem facing Afghans in the US

Advocates say the high cost of housing is far from the only problem facing many Afghan displaced people in the US. Add to these the challenges of finding well-paying jobs, difficulties with language and transportation, and overwhelming fears for family members left behind in Afghanistan. On top of all that, advocates say many also face uncertainty about their future in this country because Congress has yet to pass a law that would give them a path to permanent residency. That’s something the Biden administration has pushed for, and something supporters describe as a critical step that has been overlooked for too long. “It just compounds itself. All these different issues seem like small things, but they add up very quickly,” says Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant Refugee & Outreach Center (IROC), an organization that has been helping Afghan evacuees in the DC area. For Sultan Mahmoud Goya, an Afghan displaced in northern California, finding work to support his family is a growing concern. He just found out that his wife is pregnant with their third child and that in a few months they will have to leave the apartment where they were living rent-free. Goya has multiple sclerosis and says he had to quit his job at a juice shop because he couldn’t spend so many hours on his feet. “I believe a man’s character is defined through his hard work. and right now I’m in despair,” he told CNN through a translator, “because I don’t know what will happen to my family and where we’re going. to stay if I don’t have sure job.” In addition to worries about flooding in her apartment, Shila says she faces an even more pressing concern: She was recently robbed of food stamps and cash assistance — a problem that advocates say is increasingly common and affects many Afghan displaced people in Maryland, where CNN affiliate WMAR reported that scammers have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of benefits from families across the state. Flores says it looks like they’re being hacked. And as theft reports increase, Flores says her agency is getting a steady stream of requests for emergency grocery deliveries. “They’re basically calling in desperation, saying, ‘Can you help us with food? I need formula for…

title: “Afghan Evacuees Life In The Us Is Not What They Expected Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-06” author: “Walter Wood”

“The floor is very dangerous,” Sheila tells CNN as she tries to comfort the 2-year-old and get him to put a bandage over the wound. The carpet was torn up after a flood this week, exposing staples and nails on the floor. This is not what the 23-year-old expected a year ago when she left Kabul. Shila, who asked to be identified only by her first name and not be identified to protect her family, is one of more than 75,000 Afghans brought to the United States last year as part of Operation Allies Welcome. She worked as a sergeant in a U.S.-trained special forces wing of the Afghan Air Force and says she received a text message warning from her unit commander after the Taliban took over: “Hide somewhere or get out of the country. ” It’s been a year of uncertainty, she says, and just three months since a relocation agency put her in this one-bedroom apartment with her sister and nephew. It has already flooded twice in heavy rains. The apartment complex management removed the carpet and promised to replace it once the floor was dry, says Shila. Many of the few things they had acquired since arriving in the US were damaged or destroyed. And this is only one of the many problems that weigh on her. Amid the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, evacuation flights that brought people to safety in what administration officials described as “the largest airlift in history” were a glimmer of hope for many. Translators, Afghan veterans, aid workers, journalists, women’s rights activists and others allied with the US military effort in Afghanistan were among those on board. “Once they are screened and cleared, we will welcome these Afghans, who have helped the war effort for the past 20 years, in their new home in the United States of America,” President Biden said in an August 2021 speech at the White House. “Because that’s who we are. This is America.” But a year later, advocates say some Afghans brought to the United States are still struggling to find their feet. Housing is a major area of ​​concern as rents in the US have skyrocketed and a growing number of Afghans can’t find affordable places to live or, like Shila, find themselves in worsening conditions. Joseph Azam, who chairs the board of the Afghan American Foundation, calls it a crisis. “People came here with the understanding that they could have a house here and live a life…and that didn’t happen. Instead, they’ve joined this boat of trying to get affordable housing in the US, which is a big problem,” he says. “Really, they’re setting themselves up to fail.”

State Department says teams are working around the clock to help displaced Afghans

Zuhal Bahaduri leads outreach efforts to help Afghans arriving in northern California. And she says the words of an Afghan translator stick with her. She met him at an extended-stay hotel in California, where he had been living in limbo for months, waiting for permanent housing. Bahaduri says the translator told her he had worked with the US military and now felt the US government was not doing enough to support him. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘I’ve never felt so disrespected in my life,’” Bahaduri says. “He felt like he lost his dignity.” Community groups like her, the 5ive Pillars Organization, have stepped in to help refugee resettlement agencies find affordable housing for Afghan families and connect them with job opportunities. However, “many of them are placed in homes they can’t afford,” he says, “and when that happens, their struggles continue.” Asked to respond to advocates’ concerns about housing, the State Department says special teams have been working around the clock to help Afghans start new lives in the United States. When possible, Afghans have been resettled in areas that have “reasonable and available housing,” the department says. And they may be eligible for emergency housing assistance and other benefits. In parts of the country with a high cost of living, such as Sacramento, officials placed only Afghans who joined immediate family there “due to the extreme lack of available, affordable housing,” the department says. “Some Afghans may choose to move to areas like this on their own, but are being widely advised not to, given the severity of the housing crisis.” “The resettlement of tens of thousands of newly displaced Afghans in less than five months would not really have been possible without the dedication, perseverance and sheer willpower of local resettlement service staff and other partners, as well as the amazing support from local communities – – whether as volunteers, sponsoring groups, employers or simply welcoming new Afghan neighbors into their daily lives,” the department says. While the availability of affordable housing remains a concern, a recent government survey of resettlement agencies found that 97 percent of Afghans served by respondents are now in permanent housing, “a truly remarkable result,” says a State Department spokesman. And the spokesman says the majority of Afghans eligible for work have also found work. But some community organizations that help Afghans adjust to life in the United States say that’s only part of the picture. They argue that the government can — and should — do more to help. “I have a lot of sleepless nights,” says Yaqub Zargarpur, who chairs the board of the Muslim League of Virginia and the Dar Alnoor Mosque. The mosque is helping a growing number of Afghans asking for help paying their rent, he says, but available funds are limited. “In another 3-4 months, many people will be evicted… The crisis is real. These people will be homeless,” says Zargarpur.

She struggles to care for her mother, who has severe asthma

It’s a fear that haunts 25-year-old Sodaba, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her mom in northern California and struggles to afford it. She says her dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed in an instant when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. In the US, he thought he would find hope. But for different reasons, she also fears for her future in this country. “I’m afraid I’ll be stuck. I won’t be able to improve my English. I won’t be able to go to school. … I thought I would get more help,” she told CNN through an interpreter, asking to be identified only by her first name and refusing to share a photo of herself to protect her family. Already this month, he has failed to pay the full rent of $1,558. Sodaba says she worries about paying rent all the time and tries to work, but is afraid to leave her mom — who has severe asthma — alone for too long. Already her mom has been hospitalized three times since their December arrival in California. So Sodaba says she works as much as she can — about 14 hours a week placing items in the Burlington retailer. Sodaba still lights up when she talks about the Marines she met while at a camp temporarily housing Afghan evacuees last year in Quantico, Virginia. The Marines’ dedication to helping the Afghans surprised her. She felt optimistic during those months in the camp. But she says trying to make it on her own in America has filled her with stress and anxiety. “It’s very difficult. There’s a lot of pressure on me. I’m really worried,” she says. “But I have no choice but to move on.”

The lack of affordable housing is not the only problem facing Afghans in the US

Advocates say the high cost of housing is far from the only problem facing many Afghan displaced people in the US. Add to these the challenges of finding well-paying jobs, difficulties with language and transportation, and overwhelming fears for family members left behind in Afghanistan. On top of all that, advocates say many also face uncertainty about their future in this country because Congress has yet to pass a law that would give them a path to permanent residency. That’s something the Biden administration has pushed for, and something supporters describe as a critical step that has been overlooked for too long. “It just compounds itself. All these different issues seem like small things, but they add up very quickly,” says Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant Refugee & Outreach Center (IROC), an organization that has been helping Afghan evacuees in the DC area. For Sultan Mahmoud Goya, an Afghan displaced in northern California, finding work to support his family is a growing concern. He just found out that his wife is pregnant with their third child and that in a few months they will have to leave the apartment where they were living rent-free. Goya has multiple sclerosis and says he had to quit his job at a juice shop because he couldn’t spend so many hours on his feet. “I believe a man’s character is defined through his hard work. and right now I’m in despair,” he told CNN through a translator, “because I don’t know what will happen to my family and where we’re going. to stay if I don’t have sure job.” In addition to worries about flooding in her apartment, Shila says she faces an even more pressing concern: She was recently robbed of food stamps and cash assistance — a problem that advocates say is increasingly common and affects many Afghan displaced people in Maryland, where CNN affiliate WMAR reported that scammers have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of benefits from families across the state. Flores says it looks like they’re being hacked. And as theft reports increase, Flores says her agency is getting a steady stream of requests for emergency grocery deliveries. “They’re basically calling in desperation, saying, ‘Can you help us with food? I need formula for…