(WWJ) Michigan will soon welcome around 1,300 refugees from Afghanistan, officials say, around 220 of which will settle in Wayne County.
That's according to Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, who on Tuesday announced a program to help the refugees find housing a jobs.
Speaking at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island, Evans said the county is partnering with three groups to set up $20 million for rental assistance.
The Ballmer Group, FOCUS: Hope, and Samaritas will all be involved with the project.
"Another piece of this — in Samaritas' part, in large part — is the refugee communities," Evans said. "Clearly they're going to be the connection to trying to secure decent housing and those things for refugee populations that are here."
"I'm glad to see them come," Evans added. "Any research that I've done about refugees in Wayne County has said they're a boon to our economy. People can have whatever strange feelings they may have. The reality is the data supports the fact that refugees come, they work hard, they do a good job and they become a part of our community."
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Evans said the group of around 220 may just be for starters.
"We think that's significant," he said. "And once we've administered that $20 million and assess where we are, we may very well go father."
Evans noted that this particular program does not include the City of Detroit, which has its own money and is doing its own thing.
It's unclear at this time where the remainder of the 1,300 will be settling in Michigan. Evans said some of the details are still being worked out.
The Mackinac Policy Conference continues through Friday. Stay tuned to WWJ for live reports from the island by WWJ's Charlie Langton and Jackie Paige.
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Editor's Note: Refugee numbers in this article have been updated based on new information from Warren Evan's office. The latest estimated count is 1,300 for Michigan, and 220 for Wayne County.