Estimating the Refugee Population of Lansing

Year Awarded: 2006
Project Leaders:
Steven Gold, Sociology; John Melcher, Urban & Regional Planning Program, School of Planning, Design and Construction; Lori Post, Communication Arts & Sciences; Sergio Keck, Lansing School District

Project Description:
A project intended to acquire the best possible estimates of refugee and immigrant populations and their social and demographic characteristics in the Lansing area. The proposed project will be carried out by faculty and a graduate student from the MSU Department of Sociology and Urban and Regional Planning's Community and Economic Development Program in conjunction with members of the Lansing Immigrant and Refugee Resource Collaborative (made up of public and non-profit agencies serving Lansing's refugees and immigrant populations). An accurate estimate of population and social characteristics will be valuable not only for service- provision purposes, but will also assist in the acquisition of public and private funds for the delivery of resettlement and social service needs.