When Foibe Nibitanga got a ticket to a new life in the United States, she didn't expect the fear and hunger of the refugee camp to follow her to Kansas City.
The 39-year-old Burundi native leans forward in one of the worn, mismatched chairs in her Prospect Avenue apartment, trying to speak over the squeals and cries of toddlers who, in the absence of toys, play with couch cushions and a set of keys. With her sculpture-smooth skin and bright, searching eyes, she doesn't look like the mother of eight children or a woman who was hunted out of her home and has spent nearly her entire life as a refugee.
When civil war broke out in 1972 between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes in that tiny central African country, Nibitanga was just 2 years old. Her Hutu family was a target of the Tutsis, who exterminated more than 100,000 Hutus during a violent three-month campaign. Like thousands of others, Nibitanga fled and eventually settled in neighboring Tanzania.
Speaking with authority but clutching a purse to her chest, Nibitanga explains that food shortages at the Tanzanian refugee camp meant that her children went hungry nearly every day. Criminal gangs crept into the camp at night, murdering residents in their sleep. To venture out for firewood put women at risk of rape, or worse.
Nibitanga got her family out.
On October 20, with their belongings crammed into plastic-mesh bags, her family arrived in Kansas City. It was after 11 p.m. when their caseworker from Jewish Vocational Service, the local nonprofit on Baltimore Avenue that contracts with the federal government to resettle refugees in Kansas City, Missouri, dropped them off at the shabby brick house on Prospect.
The large apartment had three bedrooms, each with thin blankets covering sturdy cots. Other provisions were few. The only food in the house, Nibitanga says, was bread — a starch that her children couldn't eat. According to the Burundian mother, the family's caseworker from JVS didn't return for several days. By then, they had already showed their bare refrigerator to their landlord and told him with hand gestures that they were hungry. They had also appealed to others in Kansas City's small Burundi community for food because they had no money to purchase it.
A week after they arrived, Nibitanga says, the caseworker handed her a check for $250. The next week, she provided another $250 and a trip to a check-cashing franchise. Then, she says, the money stopped. "It's almost four weeks now, and we've run short of necessities," she says on a chilly mid-November morning. "We've become ashamed of constantly begging for food from other Burundi people."
In her refrigerator, she has an onion and four packages of Kraft cheese slices. Her freezer contains a package of ground beef and a fish with all its scales. In their small bathroom, there's no evidence of shampoo or toothbrushes. Nibitanga's warm smile and polite demeanor are tested by her frustration. It has been nearly a month, and she hasn't received immunizations or medical care. She hasn't been enrolled for food stamps to feed her 10-person family — a social service for which refugees are eligible as soon as they arrive in the United States.
"I try to speak to my caseworker, but she speaks English," Nibitanga says. A family friend translates: "I speak Swahili. We don't connect."
Steve Weitkamp, director of refugee and immigration services for Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, disputes some of Nibitanga's story. The Burundi family must have been provided a hot meal upon their arrival, he says. That's standard procedure for all newcomers. Still, he calmly takes out a pad of paper and makes careful notes.
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Somewhere I read that JVS executive director Joy Foster makes a cool $100k. How is such a small organization able to pay this astronomical amount of money if it cannot meet its obligations of serving the refugees? And somewhere I read, that despite their complaints that they are financially stressed up, JVS administration made salary increments to several employees last year. What is this financial problems when it comes to helping refugees?
Somewhere I read that JVS executive director Joy Foster makes a cool $100k. How is such a small organization able to pay this astronomical amount of money if it cannot meet its obligations of serving the refugees? And somewhere I read, that despite their complaints that they are financially stressed up, JVS administration made salary increments to several employees last year. What is this financial problems when it comes to helping refugees?
The programs set up for refugees are based on a desire to help, however, with the downturn in our own economy, resources are now limited for the American citizens who have lived and worked here and paid taxes. It is VERY irresponsible to bring refugees into the US and tell communities how many they will be taking when resources are NOT there to do the job...this benefits no one especially not the refugees who don't know how things work here, and are further handicapped by their lack of English and lack of translators.
Lets get our hearts in the right place - don't subject these people to a new country where they can't function due to a lack of English speaking and a lack of resources here to help them assimilate. Misguided and underfunded help can be worse than none at all, now these people are trapped in a country they don't know and can't function in and where there are NO resources available in city/state that can't take care of their own citizens.
The programs set up for refugees are based on a desire to help, however, with the downturn in our own economy, resources are now limited for the American citizens who have lived and worked here and paid taxes. It is VERY irresponsible to bring refugees into the US and tell communities how many they will be taking when resources are NOT there to do the job...this benefits no one especially not the refugees who don't know how things work here, and are further handicapped by their lack of English and lack of translators. Lets get our hearts in the right place - don't subject these people to a new country where they can't function due to a lack of English speaking and a lack of resources here to help them assimilate. Misguided and underfunded help can be worse than none at all, now these people are trapped in a country they don't know and can't function in and where there are NO resources available in city/state that can't take care of their own citizens.
Waaah..! JVS and refugees. Who is telling truth and who is lying? Obviously, refugees from Africa cannot deny that they have received the services if they have? Can't someone more independent find out what is amiss here?
Mr. Z, you have given us a breakdown of internal operations at JVS and how casewrorkers are working over time to help refugees every days of a week. What then happened with Foebe Nibitanga? Is she lying when she says that the family was left without food for several days? Someone says somewhere here that refugees are supposed to get TB SKIN TEST but this particular family never did? How long does it take for a refugee from Africa to be screened of this viral disease? I am just wondering what is going on here between JVS and the refugees!
I have seen two comments that appear to have been authored by some employees of JVS (although they have not openly identified themselves) to rebutt the article by The Pitch. The last one is purpottedly authored by one Z...? from Kansas City. The Pitch article is indeed very balanced contrally to JVS' merceneries' claims. They want to deceive the world that the angecy is doing 'a wonderful job' to an unappreciative lot of refugees! If I recollect my memories of the reading The Pitch articles, two refugee families from Burundi were brought in from Tanzania around October 2009. One of them is a family of ten. In this family, there is an elderly lady of over 65 years. A lady named Foebe Nibitanga, a family spokesperson told how she and her other family members were brought and dumped in an apartment by a caseworker who never came back to see them for the next several days. Nibitanga has 7 children. She went into a begging mission for food after it became apparent that she risked starving with all her children after JVS failed to help them get food. Her begging mission began with the apartment landlord. He gave them food after he found children literally staring at starvation in a strange land. The Burundi community led by one Daniel Marenga gave her food. The Pitch quotes Marenga and his wife Josephine testifying to the fact that the story of Nibitanga and her Burundi compatriot is true. By the time The Pitch exposed her plight, she was two months old in America. At that time, she had not received Food stamps. JVS blamed the Department of Family Services for the food stamps delay. The Family services department is one of the well known most efficient government agencies in Kansas City. Nibitanga said she had also not received TB SKIN TEST, Refugee Medical screening including immunization, her kids aged below five years had not been enrolled for WIC program, her husband who has hearing impairment had not been taken for medical care, she had not received her Social Security and the rest of the family, etc. What services did JVS provide to this family that it (the family) did not appreciate? The so-called Z...? alleges that JVS has 6 'committed' case workers. Committed to neglect or serve? The other family of 3 had similar tales to tell; they were kept without heat and electricity for 14 days until The Pitch reporter raised questions with JVS. This is the time they received a small space heater which they did not have any ideas how to operate it. They had been given rusty pots and pans, they had not been taken for the same TB skin test, no medical screening, no cash, no food, etc. And you have the audacity to keep on defending what is not defendable? You can run but you can't hide from the truth. Refugees are poor people who need care and understanding. Something is being hiden here. The JVS administration claims that services have been provided without saying when and where they were provided. Claims that Joy Foster and her husband, Mr. Foster, are running the agency like a family venture have been made. Another fiasco similar to the city?
Waaah..! JVS and refugees. Who is telling truth and who is lying? Obviously, refugees from Africa cannot deny that they have received the services if they have? Can't someone more independent find out what is amiss here?
Mr. Z, you have given us a breakdown of internal operations at JVS and how casewrorkers are working over time to help refugees every days of a week. What then happened with Foebe Nibitanga? Is she lying when she says that the family was left without food for several days? Someone says somewhere here that refugees are supposed to get TB SKIN TEST but this particular family never did? How long does it take for a refugee from Africa to be screened of this viral disease? I am just wondering what is going on here between JVS and the refugees!
I have seen two comments that appear to have been authored by some employees of JVS (although they have not openly identified themselves) to rebutt the article by The Pitch. The last one is purpottedly authored by one Z...? from Kansas City. The Pitch article is indeed very balanced contrally to JVS' merceneries' claims. They want to deceive the world that the angecy is doing 'a wonderful job' to an unappreciative lot of refugees! If I recollect my memories of the reading The Pitch articles, two refugee families from Burundi were brought in from Tanzania around October 2009. One of them is a family of ten. In this family, there is an elderly lady of over 65 years. A lady named Foebe Nibitanga, a family spokesperson told how she and her other family members were brought and dumped in an apartment by a caseworker who never came back to see them for the next several days. Nibitanga has 7 children. She went into a begging mission for food after it became apparent that she risked starving with all her children after JVS failed to help them get food. Her begging mission began with the apartment landlord. He gave them food after he found children literally staring at starvation in a strange land. The Burundi community led by one Daniel Marenga gave her food. The Pitch quotes Marenga and his wife Josephine testifying to the fact that the story of Nibitanga and her Burundi compatriot is true. By the time The Pitch exposed her plight, she was two months old in America. At that time, she had not received Food stamps. JVS blamed the Department of Family Services for the food stamps delay. The Family services department is one of the well known most efficient government agencies in Kansas City. Nibitanga said she had also not received TB SKIN TEST, Refugee Medical screening including immunization, her kids aged below five years had not been enrolled for WIC program, her husband who has hearing impairment had not been taken for medical care, she had not received her Social Security and the rest of the family, etc. What services did JVS provide to this family that it (the family) did not appreciate? The so-called Z...? alleges that JVS has 6 'committed' case workers. Committed to neglect or serve? The other family of 3 had similar tales to tell; they were kept without heat and electricity for 14 days until The Pitch reporter raised questions with JVS. This is the time they received a small space heater which they did not have any ideas how to operate it. They had been given rusty pots and pans, they had not been taken for the same TB skin test, no medical screening, no cash, no food, etc. And you have the audacity to keep on defending what is not defendable? You can run but you can't hide from the truth. Refugees are poor people who need care and understanding. Something is being hiden here. The JVS administration claims that services have been provided without saying when and where they were provided. Claims that Joy Foster and her husband, Mr. Foster, are running the agency like a family venture have been made. Another fiasco similar to the city?
As a avid read of the pitch I have never seen such a mud slinging article on your pages as I have reading this one. Its a very sad day when an orginization such as J.V.S that provides the many services they do provide and the only company in kansas city that does, get drug through the mud. Maybe if we were to open our eyes and see what the employees do or maybe spend a day in the shoes of the employees, clients and volunteers of said company that we may be able to sympathize with them. Maybe we could help find a solution to the issues at hand. How about instead of being a problem be the solution. Think about what the article said. There are only 6 case workers on hand and they helped 450 refugees last year. Lets do the math thats 75 refugees to one case worker I dont know about you but that's a hell! of a case load. And since when does helping hand mean do everything for you. Dont get me wrong I love all people and I believe that as American's we should extend our hand and help people less fortunate then us. They come to the U.S. for a better life and J.V.S provides assistance for them to get them started, to get them on there feet. To show them the ropes so to speak. And thats what they are doing. Are they a perfect company? Probably not but find me one company that is. what the employees of this company do is commendable, They come to work every day to help others. How many of you can say that? How many of you have the patients or the heart to do what they do every day. I suggest that any one who has a negative thing to say about them to go spend a day there, donate something money, food, clothes even a couple bucks or maybe even you'r time. In closing I just want everyone to remember this is a non for profit orginization. The employees are not loaded they dont make tons of money they do what they do because they love it and they believe in helping others. They probably work long hours with no extra pay and go above and beyond to take care of bussiness. Let's not turn our backs on the employees or the company because of a few negative comments. Lets Back them up and allow them to continue there efforts helping our refugees and those with disabilities. We must remeber that In order to be a strong community we must rise up and help in any way we can to keep this company running. This company has to be doing some thing right or they wouldnt have been in bussiness this long. I urge you to open your hearts and help anyway you can. Peace and Love.
Z.
As a avid read of the pitch I have never seen such a mud slinging article on your pages as I have reading this one. Its a very sad day when an orginization such as J.V.S that provides the many services they do provide and the only company in kansas city that does, get drug through the mud. Maybe if we were to open our eyes and see what the employees do or maybe spend a day in the shoes of the employees, clients and volunteers of said company that we may be able to sympathize with them. Maybe we could help find a solution to the issues at hand. How about instead of being a problem be the solution. Think about what the article said. There are only 6 case workers on hand and they helped 450 refugees last year. Lets do the math thats 75 refugees to one case worker I dont know about you but that's a hell! of a case load. And since when does helping hand mean do everything for you. Dont get me wrong I love all people and I believe that as American's we should extend our hand and help people less fortunate then us. They come to the U.S. for a better life and J.V.S provides assistance for them to get them started, to get them on there feet. To show them the ropes so to speak. And thats what they are doing. Are they a perfect company? Probably not but find me one company that is. what the employees of this company do is commendable, They come to work every day to help others. How many of you can say that? How many of you have the patients or the heart to do what they do every day. I suggest that any one who has a negative thing to say about them to go spend a day there, donate something money, food, clothes even a couple bucks or maybe even you'r time. In closing I just want everyone to remember this is a non for profit orginization. The employees are not loaded they dont make tons of money they do what they do because they love it and they believe in helping others. They probably work long hours with no extra pay and go above and beyond to take care of bussiness. Let's not turn our backs on the employees or the company because of a few negative comments. Lets Back them up and allow them to continue there efforts helping our refugees and those with disabilities. We must remeber that In order to be a strong community we must rise up and help in any way we can to keep this company running. This company has to be doing some thing right or they wouldnt have been in bussiness this long. I urge you to open your hearts and help anyway you can. Peace and Love. Z.
The reporting here does nothing more than to affirm the notion that journalist in this present day and age do nothing more than sensationalize. As if that isn't sad enough, reading through the thoughtless comments reminds me that our populous is made up of, to a large extent, people who are void of critical thinking. To rush to judgement on the biased words of some scantly paid reporter is, at best, very simplistic. Mr. Christopher Coen, I am sure, with his authoritive analysis, must go to sleep each night feeling so very proud of his deep intellect. The wonderful folks at JVS should feel a sense of pride knowing that they've at least provided an avenue by which this feeling of superiorty each and every one of you have gained with your thoughtless comments, for the enrichment of self esteem, however gained, is a wonderful start..........
The reporting here does nothing more than to affirm the notion that journalist in this present day and age do nothing more than sensationalize. As if that isn't sad enough, reading through the thoughtless comments reminds me that our populous is made up of, to a large extent, people who are void of critical thinking. To rush to judgement on the biased words of some scantly paid reporter is, at best, very simplistic. Mr. Christopher Coen, I am sure, with his authoritive analysis, must go to sleep each night feeling so very proud of his deep intellect. The wonderful folks at JVS should feel a sense of pride knowing that they've at least provided an avenue by which this feeling of superiorty each and every one of you have gained with your thoughtless comments, for the enrichment of self esteem, however gained, is a wonderful start..........
What does the JVS Board president have to say about this? Ralph Levy sent a letter in June and what was the response? For an agency that was founded to assist Holocaust survivors - to now - allowing these deplorable actions to continue for other groups of people (that they say they want to help)is sickening. How do they even sleep at night? What plan do they have to correct this situation immediately? It seems to me that the employees that quit or were fired are the only ones that genuinely care. When money is received from the government to provide services, responsibility goes along with it. Even if the administration does not have a lot of empathy, they should at least have sense enough to keep the employees that do!!
What does the JVS Board president have to say about this? Ralph Levy sent a letter in June and what was the response? For an agency that was founded to assist Holocaust survivors - to now - allowing these deplorable actions to continue for other groups of people (that they say they want to help)is sickening. How do they even sleep at night? What plan do they have to correct this situation immediately? It seems to me that the employees that quit or were fired are the only ones that genuinely care. When money is received from the government to provide services, responsibility goes along with it. Even if the administration does not have a lot of empathy, they should at least have sense enough to keep the employees that do!!
The Pitch: Thanks alot for exposing JVS and advocating for the poor refugees and I agree to last comment that you need to do more investigations..
Carolyn Szczepanski You did a wonderfull job, Thanks
I was resettled by JVS last year, and thanks God that I had relatives in the area. The problem at JVS that there is no structure or policy or even regulations. They pay the rent for some clients for up to 7 months and for some clients they stop paying the rent after one month. So how you expect a new refugee to start paying his rent after one month, some of them are still waiting for social security card!!! You need to use some common sense!!! treat all clients the same.thats all what we are asking!! One thing I noticed, The caseworkers are keep changing which indicate there are huge problems. There were diversity in the employees before but now There is people there whose solution to the clients is " they should be looking at Scandinavia," he says. "They should go to Sweden." I cant believe that he just said that to a newspaper!!!! I think they think that all clients come from a jungle and they are doing a favor when they place people in apartments that are full of cockroaches. I wish if someone can video tape or record what some of them do to the clients. All my extended family resettled to Kansas city in 1997 By Donbosco, They were all happy with their resettlement even though the money was tight at that Time. I wish if there is another agency who can take care of the refugee resettlement in Kansas city. To be fair, there are nice people who really work hard every day, but they are the exception not the rule...
To THE PITCH: do more investigation and ask the State Department what is up? Go to Office of Refugee Resettlement website.
The Pitch: Thanks alot for exposing JVS and advocating for the poor refugees and I agree to last comment that you need to do more investigations.. Carolyn Szczepanski You did a wonderfull job, Thanks
I was resettled by JVS last year, and thanks God that I had relatives in the area. The problem at JVS that there is no structure or policy or even regulations. They pay the rent for some clients for up to 7 months and for some clients they stop paying the rent after one month. So how you expect a new refugee to start paying his rent after one month, some of them are still waiting for social security card!!! You need to use some common sense!!! treat all clients the same.thats all what we are asking!! One thing I noticed, The caseworkers are keep changing which indicate there are huge problems. There were diversity in the employees before but now There is people there whose solution to the clients is " they should be looking at Scandinavia," he says. "They should go to Sweden." I cant believe that he just said that to a newspaper!!!! I think they think that all clients come from a jungle and they are doing a favor when they place people in apartments that are full of cockroaches. I wish if someone can video tape or record what some of them do to the clients. All my extended family resettled to Kansas city in 1997 By Donbosco, They were all happy with their resettlement even though the money was tight at that Time. I wish if there is another agency who can take care of the refugee resettlement in Kansas city. To be fair, there are nice people who really work hard every day, but they are the exception not the rule...
WE HAVE NO MONEY....THE ECONOMY HAS AFFECTED US...ECONOMY, ECONOMY, ECONOMY; THIS IS THE BEST SCAPEGOAT IN TOWN TO EXPLAIN INEPTITUDE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO DO MORE AND BRING THESE CROOKS AT JVS TO ACCOUNT
Some of the commentators have stretched this issue too far. The simple and most important question is why are refugees brought to America from the land where they are used to their plight, lied to that there was hope to chnage their lives and once they arrive, they are told......be on your own...this is not Scandinavia? Obviously, from the look of things, things at JVS are falling apart. There is either lack of clear policy or the head of the agency is incurably inept that she needs quick replacement. After all, how do you explain an executive director who drops tears upon being confronted with specific and straight forward questions that require specific straight forward answers? USCRI and the State Department need to do more than just issue defence statements from Washington.
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