Region gears up for Somalis
Officials believe housing and jobs may draw families to central Maine
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — With Lewiston's Somali population expected to approach or exceed 2,000 this year, officials in central Maine are preparing for the possibility of Somali families moving north to Augusta and Waterville.
"There is no imminent crisis in Augusta. It's all very much preliminary. We don't know yet if folks will be coming to Augusta," Assistant City Manager Michael Lombardo said Friday.
But given that several hundred more Somalis may be headed to Maine than were originally expected, Augusta should anticipate that some of those new arrivals may travel north and settle in Augusta, he said. About 1,200 Somalis have moved to Lewiston since January 2001, and that number could hit 2,000 by year's end.
But Lombardo said representatives of the Somali community were in Augusta this month to ask about the availability of housing and jobs. With so many Somalis arriving in Lewiston, available housing is beginning to dry up.
The Office of Health and Welfare in Waterville has yet to receive any inquiries from Somali families, but director Linda Fossa said her department will be making preparations to meet the needs of the immigrants if that's required in coming months.
Fossa is aware that the Somali migration may begin to move north and has been in contact with the human services office in Lewiston to discuss their strategies and services.
Mary Bartlett, director of Augusta's Bureau of Health and Welfare, said she plans to meet with Somalis who are considering a move here. In the coming weeks, the city will assess the needs of those families and determine how the bureau can be of assistance, she said.
Lombardo said he spoke recently with Phil Nadeau, Lewiston's assistant city administrator. A meeting they had planned was canceled, but the two men expect to get together for a more thorough discussion shortly, said Lombardo.
"There are only so many jobs to go around in Lewiston, so it seems likely that some of the Somalis will be looking elsewhere for jobs," he said.
Because Augusta is close to Lewiston, some Somalis may decide to seek employment here and rent apartments in the city, he said.
Most Somalis, including approximately 2,250 in Portland, have come to Maine from their war-torn east African country or, more recently, from the Atlanta, Ga., area.
Cornelia Brown, superintendent of the Augusta School Department, said she spoke with Lombardo Wednesday.
"He said there could be eight Somali children coming," she said. Brown said the school system already has instructors on the staff who teach English as a second language and accommodating eight additional students — even on short notice — is not a problem.
With Augusta's decline in population over the past 20 years, she said school buildings are capable of enrolling new students.
"But there is certainly a point where you have to consider additional staff," the superintendent said. Brown said Lombardo has invited her to attend a meeting to discuss the matter more thoroughly.
She also said that no one from the Somali community has contacted her office. Brown acknowledged that Somalis could be attracted to Augusta because the city is a center with many services.
Lewiston City Hall has been working closely with Somali refugees and transplants from Atlanta on a variety of services that they require immediately upon arrival. They range from acquainting them with health-care clinics to buying a vehicle or learning bus routes.
The Androscoggin County city has also printed a brochure about the new Somali community, and added a cultural diversity section to the municipal Web site. Several Somali families also live in neighboring Auburn.
Lombardo said Augusta can learn from Lewiston's experience over the past year.
"We want to talk to the folks in Lewiston. There is no indication yet that this is going to be a phenomenon in Augusta, but we have no direct experience with this so we have to look at what resources we have," he said. Lombardo said he will also seek assistance from the state, if necessary.
Bartlett said the city Bureau of Health and Welfare, by law, is required to provide basic services that are considered vital. They include housing, health services, food stamps, and referrals for job placement and adult education.
"We'd like to be able to do this carefully and with a conscience," said Bartlett. She said Augusta's low-income housing market is tight, with waiting lists for subsidized units and boarding homes.
Mayor William Dowling said the city wants to formulate a plan that addresses how the city can help with relocation and family services.
Michael Chitwood, chief of the Portland Police Department, said he believes incoming Somalis may be moving north to Augusta and Waterville.
"Once refugees are here and settle in, then others come," he said. The Somalis are drawn to Maine because of the relatively safe living conditions in the state, he said.
The most recent influx of refugees in Augusta occurred in the 1970s and 1980s when many Vietnamese families settled here.
Staff Writer Justin Ellis contributed to this story.
Dan McGillvray — 621-5642 dmcgillvray@centralmaine.com