refugee families face homelessness in the united states

This is a heartbreaking article in The Seattle Times about increasing numbers of refugee families -- displaced people from war-torn parts of the world -- who are finding their way to the United States only to face homelessness all over again: Refugees face homelessness all over again in U.S.

Refugee families like this one - displaced people from war-torn parts of the world - are confronting homelessness all over again in their new homeland.

As tough to navigate as the homeless-support system can be for growing numbers of families in the Northwest, it can prove profoundly challenging for refugees, who may be unfamiliar with how the system works, may have few if any marketable job skills, often don't speak English and don't understand the culture here.

Yet despite those obstacles, advocates for refugees lack any real voice or influence in plans underway to change the homeless-support system.

"We are bringing people from refugee camps to get a new start in the U.S. only to see them Dumpster-diving somewhere," said Tom Medina, who heads the state's office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance.

One of the refugees profiled in the article is 56-year-old An Na, whose family was brought to the U.S. after years in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border. Her 17-year-old daughter has had to drop out of high school to work and support the family. I know the current job market is pretty dismal everywhere, but there has to be a better way of addressing the needs of homeless families.