The Housing Experiences of Syrian Refugee Youth in the United States

Using qualitative interviews, this paper explores the early housing and neighborhood experiences of Syrian refugee youth in St. Louis. The analysis shows how the respondents and their families ended up in poor quality housing in high poverty neighborhoods which had a profound impact on their sense of safety and interactions with their environments. Families who managed to move to better neighborhoods received support from former refugees or non-refugee volunteers. The findings raise important questions for future research and outline implications for policymakers interested in attracting and maintaining refugees in post-industrial cities like St. Louis.