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Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown
Come again?
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Harrisburg's Nepalese (Bhutanese) refugee population is now one of the largest in the U.S. and there continues to be a rapid influx. And because of Harrisburg's size it's very noticeable and entire neighborhoods have changed seemingly overnight, including my old ones. We sold my Dad's house last year and they jumped on it as well as the house behind his and many of my friends' houses, and it has been a big part of the tight rental market. It's been interesting to watch and there has been some culture clashes. Here's an article from last year that explains the situation:
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/0...everybody.html
Why Harrisburg?
As the Bhutanese tell it, the Harrisburg area gained favor in the secondary migration for several reasons:
Strong job opportunities, especially for people who arrived without university degrees.
“A lot of folks are coming from different backgrounds, and all do not hold similar kinds of qualifications,” explained Luitel. “Our parents never got a chance to go to school back home. Now, they have to work here to support their families. So jobs at places like the warehouse and distribution centers have been a good fit for many Bhutanese.”
A fast-growing entrepreneur class also has opened businesses, from home health care services to groceries, that employ more Bhutanese.
A manageable cost of living, and a good strong health care safety net.
As has been documented many times, the cost of a home in southcentral Pennsylvania is far lower than in most major metro areas. And the word has gotten around to many Bhutanese that the social safety net, especially medical assistance for seniors, is comparatively good in Pennsylvania.
Physical reminders of home.
“It’s so much closer to the country that we lived in. If you look around, we like the mountains. We like the rivers. Green space, the air, everything is very attractive to us,” said Bishwa Chhetri, another community leader.
And now, the migration to central Pennsylvania has gained momentum, like a snowball rolling downhill.
Whether it’s in Lower Paxton, Swatara or Susquehanna townships on the East Shore, or Hampden Township on the West Shore, the Bhutanese have developed the kind of critical mass — including Hindu temples and Christian churches, social and sports organizations, and businesses — that draws more people here year after year.
“They look before they buy a house, they want to find whether or not there will be Nepali neighbors around,” said Chhetri, who is a real estate agent.
“We built an epicenter, and we expanded out. We are all the way out to Lebanon now. ... I sold the first house in Lebanon two years ago, and had to convince him to live five miles away from other Bhutanese. I said: ‘Look, be a leader. People will follow you.’ After two years, there are about 20 homes now in that neighborhood (owned by the Bhutanese).
“That’s our social security or whatever you call it. Support each other. We find safety in numbers,” Chhetri said.
And Harrisburg is home to the first Bhutanese pharmacist in the US:
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/0...YSw2Nr_817m0Vg