Environmental injustices faced by resettled refugees: housing policies and community development

Refugees all over the world face environmental injustices, from the horrific situations (e.g., enemies putting toxins in water sources, starvation from being denied clean water and fertile land for agriculture and raising animals) in the countries they have fled to the all too often deplorable conditions as they are in transit, displaced in their own country, in refugee camps, and sometimes even in their places of resettlement. Unfortunately, despite best efforts by resettlement agencies, refugees resettled in the USA, and in Greensboro, North Carolina (NC) specifically, continue to face environmental injustices in their new communities. Due to limited funding for housing, refugee resettlement case managers find it extremely challenging to find affordable, safe, and healthy housing options. Greensboro suffers from the lack of affordable housing for all community residents, not just refugees. Based on ongoing, community-based research in Greensboro and refugee case management and community practice, environmental injustices have been found in both the built and natural environments where refugees live once relocated to Greensboro. Thus, refugee resettlement agencies are partnering with many other service providers to conduct research and address the affordable housing crisis and policies that contribute to the environmental injustices faced by refugees resettled in Greensboro.