Anita Nzigiye, originally from Rwanda, moved to the U.S. in 2007 in search of better opportunities. She followed her sister, who had settled in Dayton, a small city in northwestern Ohio. Nzigiye sought asylum and later became a U.S. citizen.

Today, she runs Ikaze East and Central African Market in the southeastern part of Dayton, providing familiar products to the area’s numerous African residents.

Nzigiye describes the residents of Dayton as “extremely welcoming.” She stated, “I have never faced any issues.” The city also offers ample job opportunities, even for those who may not be fluent in English.

This welcoming atmosphere for newcomers in Dayton is intentional, say both city officials and community members. They recognize that immigrants play a vital role in revitalizing local economies and improving housing, especially in areas with vacant properties.

This positive approach contrasts sharply with the negative political discussions surrounding immigration in nearby Springfield, Ohio, just a half-hour away.

Dayton’s friendly stance toward immigrants is reflected in various community initiatives, from local associations to a city department focused on helping new arrivals, according to Sharon Cornelissen, director of housing at the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America. Similar positive experiences with immigrants have been observed in other U.S. cities, including Hamtramck, Michigan, and Brockton, Massachusetts.

Cornelissen has researched struggling communities extensively, including a three-year research project in Detroit. She describes the influx of immigrants into these areas as creating a “virtuous circle,” leading to the revitalization of local housing markets.

“People often invest love and hard work into their homes,” she explained, adding, “We tend to see home prices stabilize and even rise.”

A Severe Foreclosure Crisis

Amidst today’s tight housing market, it’s easy to forget the profound distress many Rust Belt cities, including Dayton, faced during the 2000s. For a period, banks extended easy credit to borrowers, inflating home prices and creating a market bubble. The 2008 financial crisis was triggered when this bubble burst, although home prices had already begun to decline as early as 2006.

Many Americans, particularly those without any equity in their homes and living in struggling communities, chose to abandon their properties. In 2007 alone, Dayton reported over 12,000 foreclosure filings, according to data from Attom Data provided to YSL News.

The foreclosure crisis intensified an already declining population trend caused by the exit of large employers and the movement to the suburbs, explained Aaron Sorrell, who served as Dayton’s planning director during that time. The city’s population peaked in the 1960s, and it lost nearly one-third of its residents in subsequent decades.

However, shortly after the new millennium, newcomers began arriving in the city.

Starting in 2004, many Ahiska Turks, an ethnic group from contested territories of the former Soviet Union, were granted asylum, with thousands resettled in the U.S. in subsequent years.

“I can’t recall how many homes they purchased and renovated, but it was significant, and the positive effects were visible block by block,” Sorrell shared, now serving as the assistant city manager in nearby Huber Heights. The Ahiska are recognized for distinctive architectural features on their homes, often reminiscent of Mediterranean styles.

Islom Shakhbandarov was among these newcomers.

“You should know that in my community, 90% of my family and friends didn’t speak English at the time,” reflected Shakhbandarov, one of the first Ahiska settlers in Dayton.

“They arrived with nothing and typically worked low-paying jobs in manufacturing or related services. For individuals like me, owning a home seemed nearly impossible back then.”

During his first visit in 2007, Shakhbandarov described Dayton as a rough diamond. “It was a decent neighborhood but had many abandoned homes. I recognized the potential for our community to make a difference.” Along with several family members, he purchased a large house for $50,000, while others from the Ahiska community bought homes in dire condition for $20,000 to $30,000.

Initially, there were some challenges. However, experiences of “discrimination against immigrants” prompted community members to unite and establish initiatives aimed at creating a more immigrant-friendly environment, stated Jeanette Horwitz. These informal efforts eventually led to the formation of Welcome Dayton, a formal city department, which Horwitz now oversees.

Grassroots Welcoming Initiatives

Many of the measures that contribute to Dayton’s welcoming reputation are grassroots and community-driven rather than imposed from above. The Old North Dayton neighborhood, significantly influenced by the Ahiska, was initially established by Eastern European immigrants and continues to open its arms to diverse groups, commented Matt Tepper, another local resident.

Tepper and his partner, Jennifer Evans, relocated to Dayton to embrace this vibrant community.

over the bakery that her parents established many years ago. The couple is currently involved in managing the Old North Dayton neighborhood association.

“I believe our responsibility is to highlight the positive aspects and minimize any negativity,” Evans mentioned. “We embrace everyone in this community, aiming for our interactions to be beneficial. We learn from each other and exchange our experiences and cultural traditions.”

Indeed, the journey in Dayton has been remarkably gratifying for many Ahiska people, leading several, including Shakhbandarov, to realize the American Dream by relocating to suburban homes. The properties they renovated over fifteen years ago are now being acquired by African newcomers who value their distinctive designs, Tepper disclosed.

Shakhbandarov has found success as a businessman and considers himself part of the middle class. He manages several transport-related businesses, including a training facility that assists new immigrants in obtaining their commercial driver’s licenses so they can secure employment in a field that is in high demand for workers.

Housing crisis

Recently, many of his trainees have included Haitian immigrants whom Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has frequently referenced during his campaign.

“I’ve noticed he tends to criticize people of color and other minority groups, yet he never mentions those migrating from Russia,” Shakhbandarov stated, in reference to Vance’s remarks about the Haitian community in Springfield. “I believe they discovered the same opportunities we found 18-20 years ago. They encountered the same in Springfield. They found opportunities.”

City officials in Springfield declined YSL News’s request for a statement, citing a “high volume of interview requests on various immigration-related topics.”

“Our current objective is to lessen the public scrutiny on our community and redirect our primary focus and priorities towards serving our residents,” a spokesperson for the city relayed in an email.

Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, has commended the recent influx of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, who have taken on jobs and aided in revitalizing the local struggling manufacturing sector. However, he, along with some local authorities, asserts that this surge has also placed additional pressures on the city.

In July, Springfield’s city manager reached out to Senators Sherrod Brown and Tim Scott, the two leading members of the banking and housing oversight committee in Washington, requesting assistance for the city’s housing crisis.

“Recently, Springfield has experienced a population increase due to immigration, which has significantly impacted our ability as a community to generate sufficient housing opportunities for all,” the letter stated. “The Haitian population in Springfield has grown to between 15,000 and 20,000 over the last four years in a community that previously had just under 60,000 residents, creating considerable strain on our resources and our capacity to provide adequate housing for everyone.”

Such difficulties are expected, Cornelissen remarked.

“It’s reasonable to say that adapting to a substantial change can be quite challenging for a city,” Cornelissen added. “Initially, some services may become overwhelmed. This can place stress on the current system, leading to potential conflicts.” She noted that there may suddenly be a significant increase in school-aged children, many requiring assistance with translation or English as a Second Language education.

Dayton has had significantly more experience in welcoming newcomers, according to Horwitz, which has allowed them to develop strategic methods for their integration and to address any resulting challenges effectively. In contrast, Springfield may experience culture shock due to the quick influx of immigrants, she suggested.

Shakhbandarov believes that, over time, Springfield can learn invaluable lessons from Dayton. However, he expressed disappointment regarding how immigration often becomes a contentious topic during election seasons.

“Diverting attention away from real issues like the economy, education, and healthcare and placing blame solely on immigrants does not help in finding solutions,” he commented.