Organizations committed to assist 731 refugees who have arrived in WNY within the last 90 days
BUFFALO, NY – Feb. 7, 2025 – The Refugee Partnership of Western New York today announced the launch of a Crisis Response Fund to help cover suspended federal refugee resettlement funding as a result of the U.S. Department of State stop work order. This critical funding through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, provides support to recently resettled families and individuals during their first 90 days in the United States and includes basic needs assistance for housing and food, and funds for resettlement agencies to ensure refugee case management and supports such as school enrollment, job placement, and other social support programs to help them assimilate to their new communities.
The Refugee Partnership’s campaign goal is to raise $1.5 million within the next 30 days to help fill this shortfall in funding and support the 731 refugees in Western New York who have arrived in the last 90 days.
According to Amnesty International, a refugee is a person who has fled their country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution there and their own government cannot or will not protect them from those dangers. Refugees have a right to international protection, and they have been legally vetted through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and approved to come to the United States.
The Refugee Partnership is a collaboration made up of the five Buffalo agencies that serve refugees and immigrants – Catholic Charities of Buffalo, International Institute of Buffalo, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Jewish Family Services of WNY, and Journey’s End Refugee Services. This is the second major collaborative campaign The Refugee Partnership has undertaken. In 2021, they came together to raise funds to assist 350 Afghan evacuees who settled in Buffalo while their cases for asylum were adjudicated.
The Western New York Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and M&T Bank have each generously contributed $100,000, and the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York has made a $50,000 gift for a total of $350,000 in lead gifts to get the Crisis Response Fund underway.
Leaders from the five organizations that compose The Refugee Partnership noted:
“We knew policy changes were coming to refugee resettlement programs, but we were blindsided by funding cuts to support refugees who had recently arrived in the United States and have the legal right to be here,” said Dr. Molly Carr, CEO, Jewish Family Services of WNY. “This campaign will help our organizations to honor the commitment of the U.S. Government who had legally vetted, cleared these individuals to resettle in the United States, and promised to help fund their first 90 days here. We are committed to helping these refugees assimilate to our community and begin a successful and self-sufficient path to becoming New Americans.”
“We cannot suspend hope. Journey’s End Refugee Services continues to support our new neighbors and empower them to make Western New York home again despite the federal stop work order,” said Pamela Bos Kefi, CEO, Journey’s End Refugee Services. “We know this is an investment in our future – strengthening our local economy. Refugees are an important part of our workforce, small business owners, taxpayers, and job creators. Refugee resettlement saves lives and helps Buffalo thrive. We need you to stand with us to show once again that refugee resettlement aligns with the best interests of Western New York and the United States!”
“The State Department promised refugee families (and the nonprofits that resettle them) it would pay for clients’ basic needs and case management support for three months so that these newly arrived refugees could get their bearings and integrate into our community. Now, it has defaulted on the funding it owes to us for work already performed and to be performed for the families already here,” said Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, executive director, International Institute of Buffalo. “Regardless of your politics or who you voted for, that is wrong and beneath our great nation’s dignity. Not living up to previous commitments is terrible public policy and un-American.”
“Although the federal government has suspended refugee resettlement, Catholic Charities continues to fulfill its obligation to support the individuals and families who arrived before the suspension took effect – helping those who arrived lawfully get a foothold on starting a new life after years of enduring the hardships of refugee camps around the world,” said Deacon Steve Schumer, president & CEO, Catholic Charities of Buffalo. “Like our partners in this effort, we face a significant financial burden in doing this work. Not doing it, however, exacts a much higher human cost and would leave an indelible blemish on our community.”
As the fifth member organization of The Refugee Partnership, Jericho Road Community Health Center does not specifically resettle refugees, rather they provide essential ancillary health services for families and individuals who have recently arrived in the United States.
“Refugees and immigrants are not just revitalizing Buffalo, they are redefining what it means to be the City of Good Neighbors,” said Anna Ireland Mongo, chief program officer, Jericho Road Community Health Center. “Buffalo’s transformation is not about filling gaps in our economy or renovating buildings; it’s about the radical, compassionate act of seeing newcomers not for what they can do, but for who they are. And in embracing their full humanity, we create a Buffalo that is truly alive, not just with opportunity, but with empathy and solidarity. Immigrants haven’t just revived our city; they’ve reinvigorated the very heart of what it means to be a community.”
Added Dottie Gallagher, president & CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, “Employers across our region are already benefiting from the talent and dedication of refugee workers, but we must ensure that this pipeline of opportunity remains strong. Investing in refugee resettlement means investing in our region’s future—helping businesses thrive, keeping our population stable, and ensuring Western New York remains a place of innovation and opportunity.”
Every dollar raised in integral to support refugee resettlement in Western New York. For details on how to donate securely to The Refugee Partnership emergency relief campaign, visit refugeepartnership.org.
About The Refugee Partnership
The Refugee Partnership of Western New York is a collaborative project envisioned by Buffalo’s five agencies that serve refugees and immigrants – Catholic Charities of Buffalo, International Institute of Buffalo, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Jewish Family Services of WNY, and Journey’s End Refugee Services. The framework of The Refugee Partnership is rooted in a shared belief that the community thrives when we collaborate with each other, community partners, and those served to provide quality services and build sustainable systems that support, integrate, and attract refugees and immigrations. For more information, visit refugeepartnership.org.
About Jewish Family Services of WNY
Since 1862, Jewish Family Services of Western New York has been providing all members of our community with critical health and human services, regardless of religion, ethnicity, cultural background, gender identification, ability or age. The life-changing and wide-ranging services from elder care to refugee resettlement to behavioral and physical health are provided by professional staff and supported by an extended family of dedicated volunteers and generous donors. For more information, visit jfswny.org.
About Journey’s End Refugee Services
Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc. is a Christian community-based organization with the mission of welcoming refugees without regard to ethnic origin or creed and to assist them to become healthy, independent, contributing members of the community. Since 1985, we’ve helped to provide refugees with the resources and support they need to become successful, active and contributing members of the Western New York community. Our work is informed by our values of intercultural responsiveness, integrity, person-centered, empowerment and exemplary service.
About the International Institute of Buffalo
For over 100 years, the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) has made Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees. We’re the most trusted and experienced agency, providing more comprehensive, vital services to new Americans than any other organization in our region, including resettlement, integration, job training, and interpretation and translation services. We are non-sectarian, meaning we always have (and always will) help all immigrants and refugees in need, no matter their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. Aside from being the “Ellis Island of Western New York,” IIB is the conduit between our community and the rest of the world, hosting international leaders and foreign dignitaries. We also educate students about other countries and their cultures, underscoring the importance of international diplomacy through programs such as the Model UN.
About Catholic Charities of Buffalo
For more than 100 years, Catholic Charities of Buffalo has provided HOPE to individuals and families of all faiths, backgrounds, and circumstances. As the most comprehensive human services agency in Western New York, Catholic Charities delivers wide-ranging programs to address systemic poverty, sudden financial crisis, hunger, behavioral health, workforce readiness, family stability, legal immigration and resettlement, and help for older adults. More information can be found by visiting ccwny.org.
About Jericho Road Community Health Center
Jericho Road Community Health Center has been providing high quality medical care and supportive services to all in our community since 1997. We are committed to continuing the critical work of offering shelter, legal support, and community resources for refugees and asylum seekers. Our vision is for individuals, families, and communities to become healthy and whole.
