4 Biggest Challenges Somali Refugees Face in the US

Leaving everything and your loved ones behind is a challenging task that many Somalis go through to protect their families. Most Somali refugees and immigrants make their way to the US in the hope of a better life for all. However, due to the limited and scarce resources, there are many additional barriers they have to overcome for years before they can progress.

Event by the Somali Community Link


Some of these challenges include:

Language Barriers

Two official languages are spoken in Somalia, Somali and Arabic. English is not a commonly taught language there, becoming one of the greatest challenges Somalis face after migrating to the US. While the language barrier might seem like a minor issue, the language barrier hinders the way of making new friends, pursuing education, finding a job, or even fulfilling basic tasks, such as grocery shopping or filling forms.

 

Discrimination

The discrimination rate in the US has risen to 65% across the nation. If, with some help, they do learn the language enough to communicate their message, the high discrimination rate in the US prevents these refugees and immigrants from succeeding at schools and workplaces.

 

Not many organizations want to employ refugees since it can throw off their “work environment.” This “minor” act of discrimination keeps Somali refugees back their entire life since, without education, they’re only left to do odd jobs.

 

Inability to Secure Housing

Somalis generally have larger families, so that housing can be a great challenge. And finding “affordable” housing is also quite expensive when you don’t have solid means of earning. As a compromise, they choose to live in a small place shared by sometimes as many as 7 to 10 people. This creates a stressful and noisy environment where no one can truly rest or study.



 

Unable to Access Services

Fleeing their hometown and finding ways to reach the US itself is so stressful that these refugees often arrive in poor health conditions. And since seeking refugees isn’t a planned act, most of them are undocumented immigrants, which creates issues in accessing healthcare services.

 

Moreover, they are afraid of being deported, so they avoid seeking help. This just adds to their poor living conditions that worsen their living situation.   

 

How Can You Help?

If you want to play your part in helping Somali refugees and immigrants in Ohio, you can start by donating to the Somali Community Link. Donations play a huge role in helping these refugees meet their basic needs and make a good life for themselves. Your donations can help the Somali Community Link meet their housing needs, create health funding for them, and contribute to the youth initiative program that educates refugees and helps them find jobs.

 

If you’re ready to contribute, click here.



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