Hometown association

Hometown associations (HTAs), also known as hometown societies, are social alliances that are formed among immigrants from the same city or region of origin. Their purpose is to maintain connections with and provide mutual aid to immigrants from a shared place of origin. They may also aim to produce a new sense of transnational community and identity rooted in the migrants' country of origin, extending to the country of settlement. People from a variety of places have formed these associations in several countries, serving a range of purposes.[1][2][3]

The total number of HTAs is difficult to measure as they fluctuate in number every year. The larger HTAs have official nonprofit statuses, such as 501(c)(3) registration within the United States, and have a board of directors and elected leaders. The majority of HTAs are small with predominantly working-class membership, limiting their activities to fundraising for ongoing programs or special needs, such as a natural disaster in the home country, and the advancement of health[4] or educational activities and resources. Although much of the work of HTAs is socio-economic and cultural some of these groups do engage in political and civic processes.

HTAs also serve to donate money for special occasions or circumstances, such as a religious celebration or to repaint or repair a local church in either their new community or in their place of origin. The percentage of remittance (money sent by migrants to their home country) varies. Often, HTAs coordinate with local organizations within their community of origin to put projects into practice.

Because HTAs are volunteer-based groups, getting participation outside one's family ties can be a major challenge. People who migrated from common hometowns who appreciate the public goods that HTAs produce tend to believe that the collective benefit outweighs the individual cost of contributing. The challenge of confronting the cost and benefit of HTA investments results in the involvement in associations being low and sporadic.[5] The patterns of those who participate in transnational ties tend to be more well off financially.[6]

  1. ^ Moya, Jose C. (2005). "Immigrants and Associations: A Global and Historical Perspective". Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 31 (5): 833–864. doi:10.1080/13691830500178147. S2CID 144707012.
  2. ^ Orozco, Manuel, Rebecca Rouse (2007-02-01). "Migrant Hometown Associations and Opportunities for Development: A Global Perspective". migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved 2018-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Kinuu, Betty (2018-01-02). Kenyan Hometown Associations In Germany. AV Akademikerverlag. ISBN 9786202207683.
  4. ^ Munoz, Jose; Collazo, Jose (2019-04-05). "Promoting Health from Outside the State: La Comunidad, Migrants, and Hometown Associations". Migration Letters. 16 (2): 155–164. doi:10.33182/ml.v16i2.562. ISSN 1741-8992. S2CID 159187426.
  5. ^ Waldinger, Roger; Popkin, Eric; Magana, Hector Aquiles (2008). "Conflict and contestation in the cross-border community: hometown associations reassessed". Ethnic and Racial Studies. 31 (5): 843–870. doi:10.1080/01419870701491929. S2CID 144369235.
  6. ^ Levitt, Peggy (February 2004). "Salsa and Ketchup: Transnational Migrants Straddle Two Worlds". Contexts. 3 (2): 20–26. doi:10.1525/ctx.2004.3.2.20.