Comments on the First Report

Abstract

The First Report focuses upon two distinct and major outcomes of the host group adaptation pilot project: cost and social adaptation. In light of the stated objectives, it was predicted that refugees who were assisted by host groups would depend less upon formal cash assistance from governmental sources, especially the Adjustment Assistance Programme (AAF'). Rather, they would be assisted by host groups to obtain goods and services in the community through informal and personal networks available to host-group members. As in the case of private sponsorship, it was expected that donations would supplement and reduce the number of goods which would be purchased in the early stages of settlement. Yet the Report indicates that refugees with host-group experience received about the same (and in certain cases slightly more) assistance from AAP than did host-group refugees. The comparison may not be exact, as the family size of refugees under the host-group programme is larger. Higher AAF' expenditures may thereby be attributable.1 In any event, under the conditions in the pilot programme, no cost savings in governmental assistance are evident.