Local refugee agencies launch Crisis Response Fund

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — In light of the Trump administration’s funding freeze on refugee resettlement organizations across the country, local groups are looking for ways to bridge their funding gap.

Local refugee organizations have announced the launch of a Crisis Response Fund to help care for 731 refugees who have come to the Buffalo area in the last 90 days.

The goal is to raise $1.5 million over the next month. The money would go to basic needs such as housing, job placement and food, and getting refugee children into schools. Like many other agencies across the country, local refugee organizations say they felt blindsided when federal funding was pulled last month as the Trump administration assesses where that money is going.

“The federal government made a promise and they broke that promise,” said Jennifer Rizzo-Choi with executive director of International Institute of Buffalo. “The State Department promised these refugee families 90 days in support, not just in funds to pay for food and rent, but also in a case manager who would be their guide star.”

Organizations involved include Catholic Charities, the International Institute, Jericho Road, Jewish Family Services, and Journey’s End. Along with raising funds, local officials are also raising awareness of heightened offensive rhetoric.

“I want to lean in on this because there’s a lot of negative rhetoric, quite frankly, racist rhetoric around a lot of things that are happening and all the people we’re talking about have legal status to be in the United States,” said Dottie Gallagher, president & CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

The Trump administration has also put on pause the admission of refugees into the country and it is unknown when that will change.

The pulling of federal funding has resulted in some of the refugee organizations cutting jobs — Jewish Family Services has slashed 15 positions. Journey’s End has laid off 21 workers and employees have taken a 20 percent pay cut. The organizations also say they’re facing a massive money shortfall from New York state.

This is the second time this fund has been launched. The first time was when hundreds of Afghan refugees came to the area during Covid.

If you’re interested in donating, you can go to RefugeePartnership.org.

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