Thread: Hispanics face combined barriers of economy, language

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Hispanics face combined barriers of economy, language
By KEITH PARADISE
Staff writer

Angela Gilda Ramos came to the United States looking for a better home.

Eleven years later, the 36-year-old from Guatemala might still be looking.

Some Franklin County residents who work in near minimum-wage jobs face not only an economic barrier, but also a language barrier.

According to the 2000 census, 4,000 Hispanics were living in Chambersburg. The number continues to increase, meaning they're choosing Chambersburg as their first rung in the climb up the economic ladder.
And they're not all migrant farm workers. Many are taking jobs in distribution centers, factories and in construction. Carmen Leon, recruiter for the Migrant Education Program said the number of migrant farm workers who arrive seasonally for harvesting has been steadily declining while the number of Hispanics who move in permanently continues to rise.

Areli Breese, adult services case manager at the Franklin County Cross-Systems Department concurs, stating that many Hispanic are hired because they will take the hard labor and late-night shifts that others may not want.

"The two biggest comments that I hear from employers is that the Hispanics work really, really hard and that they don't complain," Breese said. "Hispanic people know how to work. The majority of my clients, like 95 percent, are working."

"The Hispanic population has an incredible work ethic. They will do anything that they need to do," said Dianne Salter, assistant pastor of Outreach the First United Methodist Church, which offers programs to help low-income families.

Many of them are arriving and living in this country the same way immigrants from a century ago live. Entire families or immigrants living under one roof and pooling financial resources is the norm rather than the exception. And even multiple incomes in one home doesn't always guarantee comfortable living.

Leon and Breese said hourly wages range anywhere from minimum wage to around $8 or $9 an hour, depending on the type of work. Couple that with increasing housing costs, utilities and many immigrants sending money back home to families, and many end up living on the necessities alone.

"When you go into some of these homes you'll see a table, a chair, maybe a radio or TV and that's it. They're restraining themselves so that they can send money home," Breese said.

Leon said the Hispanics who have furnished their apartments and purchased nicer vehicles more than likely plan on staying permanently. Most of the immigrants who live with few creature comforts are the ones usually looking to make enough money here to live comfortably in their homeland one day.

"They're not living like this because they like it. They came here to work and make money to send home," Leon said.

Salter's church has been offering a Thursday night dinner for low-income families since 1997 and said that between 25 and 30 percent of its attendees are now Hispanic. She was also involved with the Christmas toy program that received a list from a Hispanic child that simply asked for a coat for the child's Mom, a heater for their apartment, an apple and a Christmas tree. A case worker visited the home after receiving the list and confirmed that the family has as little as one could expect.

"They received everything on the list, and some more," Salters said.

Ramos and her four children are better off. She said her job leaves her with $225-$240 a week after taxes and she receives $120 a week in child support from her husband.

Although Ramos is a legal U.S. citizen she does still has barriers in her path, primarily language. Her husband recently received a raise, which means she could receive a boost in payments. But since people who speak Spanish at the Domestic Relations office are scarce, it's difficult for her to get the message to them. Short, simple questions are not a problem. Any more in-depth questions that a reporter asked her were translated by her 13-year-old nephew, Franklin Estrada.

Like many others struggling financially, Ramos has applied for Section 8 and subsidized housing. Finding landlords that accept the subsidy is a struggle.

Ramos' search for a new home might be expedited soon. She's currently in a conflict with the landlord who recently purchased her building and he has made it known that he wants her out. She's attempting to fight his decision in court. She has no idea where she'll go if the courts can't help.

"The only place I'll probably go will probably be a shelter," Ramos said.

Originally published January 14, 2006

"They're not living like this because they like it. They came here to work and make money to send home," Leon said.

This kind of a statement has always confused me.

If "home" is back where they came from, then why don't they ever return permanently?

It seems much more likely to me that they send money "home" in order to finance their relatives move to this country.

"The only place I'll probably go will probably be a shelter," Ramos said.

I guess you could always go back "home". After all, you've been sending all that money back there, so you should have quite a pile waiting for you.

Although Ramos is a legal U.S. citizen she does still has barriers in her path, primarily language

THIS PERSON HAS been here for ELEVEN YEARS and language is STILL A BARRIER?? There is a REAL PROBLEM THERE. IF SHE WANTED to speak English, BELIEVE ME, she would have been able to learn English in ELEVEN YEARS UNLESS SHE IS JUST DOWNRIGHT RETARDED.