At Home in the City, Refugee Lives in New York

As the world’s displaced continue to step through the doors of its cities in numbers not seen in recorded history, planners have an obligation to consider refugees as we reimagine the neighborhoods and paradigms in which we work. While the few refugees who resettle in the United States may be considered on a global level to be fortunate, resettlement systems which have been put in place in the twentieth century have left much of the work of integration to chance. This study aims to identify neighborhood factors which may contribute to a welcoming community for refugees and therefore create greater community integration. An evaluation of physical and social factors on the ground in the Liberian community in Staten Island, combined with personal experiences of resettlement informs the recommendations at the conclusion of this study.