NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Looking for a place that evacuated Afghan families can call home continues to be a struggle for Connecticut's refugee resettlement agencies, and they're asking the state's landlords for help.
Officials with Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) and the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) are looking to house over 500 Afghan evacuees that they're welcoming to the state.
The State of Connecticut is currently set to receive 510 evacuees that have gone through the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement process, though CIRI and IRIS officials anticipate more families arriving at a later time.
Over the past two months, 214 evacuees have already been relocated to Connecticut, according to state officials. The vast majority of them are under the age of 30, officials said.
With more refugees on the way, CIRI and IRIS officials are urging landlords across Connecticut to help them by providing affordable housing.
"We'll make sure they pay the rent, in full, on time. We're so confident that we'll cosign the lease," IRIS Executive Director Chris George said. "So, please, landlords, we're not asking you to put refugees to the front of the line. We just want them to be in line."
IRIS needs over an estimated 100 apartment units to house its refugees, George said, while CIRI is looking for about 40 units.
The State Department of Housing is partnering with the agencies to provide financial support.
Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno explained that state funding is being used to help pay rent.
"We've provided enough state resources for a security deposit, two-months rent for the families that are coming in," she said, "while we prepare them to apply to UniteCT so they can have another 12 months of assistance."
The agencies are also working with community groups that can help find housing for refugees in their local area, George said.
The majority of the evacuees through IRIS are being resettled in the Hartford and New Haven area while CIRI's evacuees are mainly being placed in the Bridgeport area. However, with the help of community groups, George said many may find homes in places like West Hartford, Branford, Middletown, etc.
"We ask a lot of landlords. No doubt. We ask a lot of them, but we stand behind these refugee families," George said, assuring landlords they won't be the ones taking the risk with CIRI and IRIS supporting the evacuees.