More Jewish refugees were settled in the New York area in 1962than at any time since the height of the Hungarian refugee problem in 1957 it was reported here today by J. Clarance Davies, Jr., president of the New York Association for New Americans. The agency, which obtains funds for its work from the United Jewish Appeal, aided a total of 1,750 different refugee families, representing 5,775 individuals, through its various departments last year, he said.
In 1962, he reported, the agency’s expenditures for the settlement and adjustment aid given to these newcomers was $1, 025, 760, as compared to $805,570 in 1961 and $601, 950 in 1950. The sharp rise in settlement costs, he noted, was not merely due to the increased numbers aided, but also to the fact that they arrived with few, if any, possessions and initial relief costs per case were consequently higher. In addition, a larger proportion of refugees arriving in 1962 were in technical and professional or business categories which made job placement more difficult since few spoke English adequately enough for immediate placement at their own skills.
The average cost of resettling a refugee family of four in the Greater New York area in 1962 was $1, 000, Mr. Davies said. This figure includes temporary shelter and food for the first two weeks in the city; one month’s rent and one month’s security on an apartment; urgent clothing, medical and dental needs; basic furniture and household necessities; one month’s food allowance; supplementation of salary for the first few months on a job, and incidentals, such as car fare. The average monthly relief cost per case for a family of four was $241.50.
One of the special problems faced by NYANA, according to Mr., Davies, was the 165 children from Cuba who arrived without their parents and required supervision and care. By the end of the year, nearly two-thirds had been reunited with their parents in homes which the NYANA helped to establish. However, there is no indication at present when parents of the other children will be able to leave Cuba and the New York Association will continue to provide for these children as long as necessary, Mr. Davies said.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
