ABSTRACT
That immigrants might actually prefer to rely on other, more "traditional" sources of assistance, such as family and friends, or agencies and organizations of the receiving ethnic community, constitutes another reason for the under-utilization of governmental services. Partly because of the social and/or ethnic ties and a common language, these interactions occur in a context in which a greater sense of trust between immigrants and those helping them can develop. Interaction in this environment is also likely to take place in a context of greater understanding and empathy, engendered by the shared immigration experience. It is thus possible that even in the more contemporary period, some immigrants, even those apparently capable of drawing upon governmental services, still turn to "traditional" sources of assistance.
