No more rent money: Refugee agencies scramble to understand what Trump's new ban means
No more rent money: Refugee agencies scramble to understand what Trump's new ban means
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‘The Trump administration right now is the train causing confusion and delay,’ one advocate said. Refugee service organizations are heavily dependent on private donors for funding after President Donald Trump signed a stop-work order for foreign assistance Friday directing them against using federal aid to help clients resettle.
The action was felt across numerous federal agencies that work in foreign services and resulted in layoffs. Such an action has the potential to heavily impact refugees who have arrived in the US within the last 90 days. During that time, nonprofits provide housing, cash and food assistance, childcare, and other services aimed at putting clients on a path toward stability.
For the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven, Connecticut, the order meant losing $3m in funding it expected from the federal government this year. About an hour after the order was issued, the group eliminated a team tasked with supporting sponsors welcoming refugees to the U.S.
Maggie Mitchell Salem, the organization’s director, told The Independent that the group will continue staff reductions this week but said the charity’s lights will stay on for now. “We don’t turn off,” said Salem. “We must somehow manage to avoid shutting our doors and honoring our commitment to our clients.”.
