SHINING HOPE TO HOPELESSNESS: NonProfit Offers Better Life to Asylumists, Refugees
Great Update!
May, 2024,
The Patton Street project has seen tremendous success, with six men now living in the neighborhood, all of whom are employed full-time.
This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, who have done an extraordinary job. We extend our heartfelt thanks to them for their invaluable contributions to this project.
Twenty homeless people die every day in the United States. The cause of death varies, many of which are preventable. Within this number are faceless refugees and asylumists that have fled to the United States to avoid death and despair, only to find themselves in a more problematic situation. Often, with no place to live, no employment, or means of income to feed their children.
Most asylumists are traumatized by horror stories. Many are fleeing from war, violence, and persecution. They have nothing other than hope and a dream.
Since 2014, more than 50,000 refugees have died including women and children due to preventable causes like starvation, dehydration, exposure, and disease, and it is believed that there is an unquantifiable number of neonatal fatalities in just these recent years.
Hopeless Situations of Refugees
Most of the time, if someone survives a deadly migration driven by the bright beacon of light known as the American Dream, they are unfortunately disappointed due to the lack of housing, employment opportunity, and human services.
Over 500,000 people in America are homeless today. The scarcity of available housing for refugees is seen nationwide. Without a home base, failure is almost guaranteed.
In the last two years, over four million migrants entered the United States, most with no place to live. Currently, governments, shelter systems, and nonprofit organizations are not prepared. This problem is growing every day.
Lost Potentials
The truth is, America was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrants from all over the world since its beginning. The competency and skill sets instilled in the refugee population bring tremendous patriotic opportunities. But the sad reality is, with all the good, there is also bad. Many do come with their own problems that especially affect working and middle-class Americans, who have their own struggles and feel like there is a mounting increase in competition for scarce resources. There is fear that populations seeking improved quality of life may bring dangerous, incompatible cultures. To be in denial of these truths Sets communities up for failure. But having an understanding of cultural strengths and weaknesses with well-designed systems that include services helps make the American dream come true.
Children in Danger
What is most disheartening about the whole situation is the children who are being adversely affected.
I Interviewed a social worker About migrating children who said “Aside from their traumatic experiences from violence or war, they are denied a healthy childhood, and they have to endure the difficulties of not having a home and the lack of provision of their basic needs,”
He further argued that these kids continue to be in danger as they live in an environment that is not entirely safe. He added that there is a danger to the welfare and health of these children, and the most alarming thing is the lack of access to education.
“Their minds are in danger. They are denied the opportunity to learn, grow, and become productive citizens of their communities.”
Bringing Hope, One Home at a Time
The US Department Of Housing and Urban Development. (HUD) believes there are over 582,000 people in America that are homeless today. Many believe if you include undocumented Individuals and families and the recent rapid increase of refugees, this number is much bigger. The scarcity of available housing for refugees is seen nationwide. Without a home base, failure is almost guaranteed.
In the last two years, over four million migrants entered the United States, most with no place to live. Currently, governments, shelter systems, and nonprofit organizations are not prepared. This problem is growing every day.
This humanitarian crisis is the reason they founded Successful Communities.
Successful Communities is a 501-c3 nonprofit organization established in April 2022. The organization has two offices: one in New York and another in Detroit, Michigan. Successful Communities is formed by professionals from different backgrounds including real estate, social work, legal, and others. It is focused on offering complete housing and wrap-around human services to refugees and asylumists in the United States.
The formation of the organization followed the influx of refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
The founding director of successful communities said, “We wanted to give asylumists and refugees a second chance at life. We want to help them achieve the dreams they had as they journeyed here in the US. And we want to protect all these children and give them a fighting chance of becoming successful someday despite their trauma and their experiences,”
Successful Communities’ Patton Project
Successful Communities has begun rehabilitating the first home as part of its mission of providing housing and human services to asylumists and refugees all over the United States. The project is called Patton Project.
Funding for the rehabilitation is currently provided by the nonprofit’s Board of Directors, while Successful Communities continue to raise more funds for the construction and rehabilitation and add basic appliances and furnishing for the house. The property is located on Patton Street in Detroit.
The nonprofit is also in the process of screening and vetting the first family that will be participating in the program. This family will come from partner organizations that presently house them and provide them with basic human services.
The selected program participant will receive rent subsidy provisions and basic human services, while they undergo a thorough and comprehensive integration process assisted by social workers. The integration hopes to lead the family to become self-sufficient and become productive members of the community.
Successful Communities targets to house hundreds of families in the next few months as it secures more support from the government, private organizations, and individuals. The organization’s ambitions are big, big enough to let everyone participate. Successful communities invites all parties and individuals who care about refugees and our struggling communities to donate through. https://successful-communities.org/donate/.
