Wyoming resettlement program

Feb 2, 2014
4

Wyoming

resettlement program

The governor wrote a letter in September to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement saying Wyoming was interested in establishing a public/private center to help refugees.

The federal agency has responded that it was happy to hear of that wish and the work in progress.

Since then, state officials, University of Wyoming officials and the Lutheran Family Services-Rocky Mountain have been working to put a plan together to make it possible.

“There are some federal requirements and we are addressing those,” said Shawn Reese, the policy director in the governor’s office.

Among the decisions to be made is where that resettlement center will be located in Wyoming. University of Wyoming College of Law students will begin a study to determine the best site for that center with a conference call taking place next week to set a timeline for that work.

“They will be conducting community profiles to determine where it makes the most sense,” said Merit Thomas, who also is working on the project.

The center will receive federal funds.

The program provides refugees with some temporary help in finding a home and a job to get them started, but there isn’t a long period of welfare. In Bertine Bahige’s own case, it was just three months. The state also can determine how many refugees it will accept each year.

“The center will happen within the next year,” Reese predicted. “We’re trying to get that hammered out.”

“Bertine (Bahige) is a huge player in this,” Thomas said.

(4) comments

gillettebret Feb 27, 2014 3:22pm

my letter to the governor . feel free to copy and paste . It has come to our attention that your are planning a refugee resettlement program for not only wyoming but in gillette specifically . rest assured we in gillette do not want this , we intend to make it quite clear wyoming does not want this . i do not know where you got the idea that this was a good thing for wyoming , or gillette but i assure you it is not . did you ever think to ask us first if we wanted this ? in gillette we won't build a school if even one resident does not want it in his or her neighborhood . we take very seriously any and all objections by any resident here . at the time of this posting we have already gathered 569 signatures this week objecting to this plan . this will only grow in numbers . the rocky mountain lutheran church does not speak for us at all . not to mention the chronic housing and job shortages we have had for two decades here in gillette . adding more refugees to town is simply not acceptable , let alone the additional burden on our welfare system . we urge you to cancel this plan , and worry about things that are important to wyoming like jobs , and abolishing the affordable care act which has resulted in many wyoming residents losing health care plans , doctors , and higher rates , no to mention substantial irs penalties . we await your response , and will take further action if need be . this will not go unopposed . thank you for your time , and prompt response . wyoming is not a 3rd world country , and we want it to stay that way . contact info link >http://governor.wy.gov/contactus/Pages/default.aspx

Fred Hill Feb 28, 2014 9:16pm

No one has replied on this subject?Wow.

laneytay Oct 14, 2014 12:23pm

hehe Fred you spoke too soon!!!

laneytay Oct 14, 2014 12:23pm

WOW, I believe I helping fellow humans and do so on a regular basis but I really don't think that Wyoming needs to be the hot of a refugee camp....there are MANY other more suitable ways of helping...this would potentially bring problems to this state that thus far we have avoided....I think that the residents of Wyoming should have had input before Mead made this decision...so far I don't see that he represents the majority of Wyoming citizens in most matters.