re: 60 minute piece on Yogurt man didn't tell you the truth

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The local refugee resettlement center explains that the refugees themselves receive many thousands of dollars to support their first eight months in Idaho. If flying in from Salt Lake City they will be met at the airport by a refugee resettlement coordinator. The refugees will be taken to an apartment “furnished with both required and additional items” with enough “culturally appropriate” food to last for three days; the next day they are given their first check and driven to the bank. Usually within two days of arriving they will be brought into an office to be given information about the town and how to integrate into the culture, and upon leaving are then “offered a trip around town to do follow-up food shopping.”

Within the first 90 days of their arrival, the refugees’ apartment deposit and first month’s rent will be paid for as well as “a week or two of food — depending on the size of the family.” This totals $1,125 per person, all money used by the Refugee Center and provided by the U.S. Department of State.

After these first thirty days and until they hit a certain income level or eight months have elapsed — whichever comes first — the refugees will be provided a certain amount of money per month: “one person receives $382 monthly, and a family of four receives $782. For one person, the case is closed once he or she earns $637 per month; or $1,303 for a family of four.” This money comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The refugees also become eligible for a matching grant after their first 30 days. This is equivalent to “$200 per adult and $40 per child per month. Refugees are also eligible to receive lump sums of $150 periodically, such as 120 days after arrival.” The refugees are also given assistance maintaining extended employment for up to five years. As Zeze Rwasama, director of the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center, says: “the Refugee Center helps them try to resolve any issues with those jobs, such as working conditions or conflicts with management.”

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