LIMA, OH (WLIO) - On Monday night at Lima City Council, Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith addressed councilors about the current situation regarding Haitian immigration.
According to the mayor's presentation, several county and city agencies are reporting increased demands. The Allen County Job and Family Services has received applications from nearly 550 Haitian people for federal and State of Ohio assistance. The Lima Municipal Court recorded a large increase in the need for Haitian Creole interpreters, while Mercy Health St. Rita's reported a 75% increase in the usage of language lines, with Haitian Creole being the most requested. Additionally, both the Lima Police and Fire Departments report an increase in overcrowding of single-family occupancy homes and apartments. After council, Mayor Smith shared with Your Hometown Stations about the next steps for the city.
"I also wanted to set the fact straight today that Lima is not a sanctuary city and to provide some statistics on how this has affected us in terms of local government operations. What we're seeing is a need, particularly for language services, and so, we will be asking for resources so that our personnel can communicate with individuals. We're also asking Lima City Council to review the definition of family in our code in terms of occupancy for residential structures," says Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
Mayor Smith also adds that natural disasters, political instability and persecution, and a troubled economy are some of the main factors pushing Haitians out of Haiti and immigrating to the United States. There will be a committee meeting on Monday, April 29th, at 6 p.m. inside Council Chambers to discuss definitions of a family.
