New Hampshire Refugee Resettlement

The purpose of this report is to examine refugee resettlement programs in New Hampshire and to explore best practices that can be beneficial to refugees and their host communities. We first provide a brief overview of the status of refugees and the role of the federal and state government in funding programs available to refugees in New Hampshire. We then explore key topics that present particular policy challenges to the New Hampshire refugee community as identified by Barbara Seebart, the state refugee coordinator. These issues include employment and job progression, refugee transportation, mental health, and civic engagement. The academic research and best practices of other states illustrate the benefits of increasing the role that municipal governments and the surrounding community could play in overcoming obstacles that refugees face in New Hampshire.