“Among the families that IILA received and placed into our community, we have between 75 and 80 families who are still in hotels,” Alba said, adding that most of these families are in L.A. County.In Orange County, which has been a draw for many Afghan refugees, close to 40 Afghan families are estimated to still be housed in hotels, said Jose Serrano of World Relief in Garden Grove.
The biggest problem is a lack of affordable housing inventory, Alba said. Another obstacle is that landlords, many of whom took a financial hit on rent in the pandemic, continue to be “very cautious about who they're accepting as tenants,” she said.
More Afghans arrived in Southern California last fall and winter, as refugees were gradually released from camps set up at U.S. military bases. Resettlement agencies scrambled to find them temporary housing. Many have by now been housed, but not all. The agencies are working with nonprofits and community groups to find these remaining families permanent housing. Community groups, churches and other local organizations are still helping them raise funds to help cover Afghan families' move-in costs.One critical deadline coming up for many Afghans who are still in hotels is their three-month anniversary of arrival, Alba said.