DETROIT – A report released this week highlights critical issues facing foreign-born people in Southeast Michigan.
There are more than 600,000 foreign-born individuals in Michigan, 70 percent of whom who live in Southeast Michigan, according to the report, which was funded through the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Kresge Foundation, and the Skillman Foundation.
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From 2012 through 2018, Michigan was the fourth largest state in the country for refugee acceptances since 2012, behind Texas, California and New York. The number of refugees entering Michigan has declined by 85.7 percent since fiscal year 2016.
Related: Study: Economic impact of refugees in Southeast Michigan nearly $300M in 2016
The authors of the report identified four critical issues facing foreign-born individuals in Southeast Michigan. They include:
- Lack of access to services — Foreign-born individuals in our region have a lack access to affordable housing, and face barriers to receiving health care, employment, transportation, and other critical services.
- Poor public perception — Refugees and immigrants are often viewed through a narrow economic perspective. As a result, conversations about investing in ways to help them adjust to life in our region often overlook the value they bring to our communities.
- Insufficient funding — Services to support immigrants and refugees have long been underfunded. Recent policy changes have further widened the gap. Federal support to Michigan through the Refugee Cash Assistance and the Refugee Medical Assistance programs has declined, as has the number of refugees receiving support under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
- Lack of strategic funding focus — Foundations in our region have a long history of supporting services that help our region's foreign-born population. But, to date, there has been no regional strategy that aims to coordinate this support.
"Organizations serving refugees and immigrants are facing increased financial pressures due to decreases in federal assistance and the growing need for supporting these members of our community," said Mariam Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. "The goal of the Southeast Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Funder Collaborative is to provide a coordinated, philanthropic effort to support immigrant- and refugee-serving nonprofit organizations that address the needs of their constituents in our region."
Federal funds given to Michigan through the Refugee Cash Assistance program and the Refugee Medical Assistance program have declined, as have the number of refugees receiving funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. In response to these drops in funding to Michigan from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the need to secure funding for social services and targeted assistance has increased.
In response to the findings, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, alongside Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, and the Kresge Foundation, announced the creation of a new partnership, the Southeast Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Funder Collaborative ("The Collaborative").
The impetus for the Collaborative is based on the findings of a new report that outlines the current state and several pressing challenges facing organizations that support immigrants and refugees. The Collaborative will help the philanthropic community work together to support southeast Michigan's various immigrant and refugee communities.
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"As we witness the marginalization of immigrants in this country, it is essential that philanthropic institutions leverage their voice and resources in support of all members of their communities," remarked GCIR President Daranee Petsod. "We applaud the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and partners for their leadership in developing this collaborative and look forward to working with all partners to strengthen community ties and resources."
The current investment in the Southeast Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Funder Collaborative is $450,000, over a period of two years.