Date of Award
5-2020
Degree Type
Research Paper
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Community Development and Planning (CDP)
Department
International Development, Community and Environment
Chief Instructor
Kathryn Madden
Second Reader
Anita Fábos
Keywords
integration, housing stability, massachusetts, refugee resettlement, social infrastructure, transportation
Abstract
This paper examines refugee resettlement practices at the neighborhood level, asking what neighborhood characteristics are conducive to achieving positive integration and housing stability outcomes. Using data from a quantitative study of refugee resettlement case files from Ascentria Care Alliance as a foundation, this research takes the form of an analysis of the Bell Hill neighborhood in Worcester, MA, a major resettlement destination. Using Ascentria data, secondary data sources such as US Census data and the Worcester Assessor’s Database, and site visits, this paper constructs a profile of Bell Hill along four major dimensions: community characteristics, housing, social infrastructure, and physical infrastructure. The results paint a picture of a diverse neighborhood in terms of residents, housing stock, amenities, and businesses that likely primes refugees for integration success. The paper concludes with a recommendation that resettlement agencies consider neighborhood characteristics, especially along the lines of those found in Bell Hill, as a key part of their refugee placement strategy.
Recommended Citation
Maren, Tyler Seth, "Refugee Housing in Worcester: A Neighborhood Case Study of Bell Hill" (2020). International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE). 242.
https://commons.clarku.edu/idce_masters_papers/242
Worcester
Yes
Included in
Human Geography Commons, International and Area Studies Commons, Social Policy Commons, Urban Studies Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons