Amid federal funding cuts and freezes, employees at Ohio’s refugee resettlement agencies are feeling fearful and uncertain, according to Karen Mozenter, the CEO of Jewish Family Services.
“It has been a very stressful time, to say the least,” Mozenter said. “We have a lot of concern for the families that we serve.”
Jewish Family Services is a nonprofit that, since 1908, has helped thousands of immigrants and refugees from all over the world find housing, a job, learn English and become prosperous U.S. citizens.
“They are here legally,” Mozenter said. “These are people who have waited, on average, two decades to be able to come here.”
On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump halted refugee arrivals into the country. That executive order is being challenged in court, but Mozenter said the government still has an obligation to those already here.
Data from the refugee processing center shows more than 3,500 refugees came to Ohio last year. When refugees arrive in the U.S., they're promised by the U.S. Department of State 90 days of assistance with things like rent, food and basic needs to help them gain their independence.
“We were told the funding would no longer be reimbursed for those services, so while the government broke its promise, we did not break our promise,” Mozenter said. “We have continued to provide those services. We know it's at our own financial risk, but it's too important. We had recently welcomed 159 people who were still within that 90-day period, and we would not turn our backs on them.”
Mozenter said much of their $7 million operating budget comes from the federal government. The nonprofit also gets funding from the city of Columbus, Franklin County, the state of Ohio, corporate funders, private foundations and donors, but she said at least half of their budget is at risk.
“We have about $235,000 that we have not yet been reimbursed for,” Mozenter said. “We have another $2.1 million in funding that originates with the federal government that helps us provide ongoing support to those families beyond the 90 days. So those are the stabilization supports and the employment services. That money is under review. It's subject to the federal funding freeze. So that's all in the courts right now. We're continuing to provide those services, and we're hoping that that funding will continue.”
It’s not just refugee funding at risk. Mozenter said funding that goes toward their other programming could also be taken away. Their programs not only help refugees, but immigrants and low-income families.
“Our agency has another over $2 million at risk, for other programs that we do outside of our refugee services, other employment services, mental health services, digital navigation services that are helping people use the internet and get digital skills so that they can get jobs,” Mozenter said. “All of that funding is at risk as well.”
Without the help of organizations like JFS, Tariq Mohamed, the senior director for New American Services at Jewish Family Services, said their clients risk homelessness and food insecurity.
“I have never seen this type of divisiveness towards refugees and immigrants. I've never seen it. Refugees have definitely shaped Franklin County and changed the landscape for the better and for us to welcome refugees it's really what America is all about,” said Mohamed. “Without funding, the infrastructure that we have to make refugees self-sufficient will be detrimental to a lot of these programs. So we really need funding to continue supporting refugees and those who are seeking employment.”
While JFS hasn’t had to lay off any employees yet, that’s not the case at Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services or ETSS, another nonprofit that helps immigrants and refugees. Dianna Russell, the director of institutional advancement at ETSS, said already 17 employees have been laid off, nearly the entire resettlement department.
“If resettlement is not allowed in the United States, then the resettlement department really doesn't exist,” Russell said. “It's heart wrenching. We're humans, you know, so if we take out the borders, the color lines, the racism, all of that, we're dealing with humans.”
The impact extends beyond the refugees and employees who help them. In Central Ohio, Jewish Family Services said refugees contribute at least $1.6 billion annually to the local economy. If refugees continue to not be allowed in the country, Russell predicts the economy will take a major hit.
“And this is just refugees. We're not talking about refugees and immigrants,” Russell said. “We were on a list of like one of the 10 robust cities growing in the economy. Not when you take $1.6 billion away.”
Despite the uncertainty, these organizations are finding ways to continue their work. Russell said volunteers have jumped in to help do the jobs former employees were doing and corporations have donated money, but said the organizations still have large gaps in funding.
“Our doors are open and we are a safe space and so we will provide as much help as we can, and we continue to ask for help to be able to do that,” Russell said. “We are now facing more potential cuts and so we really do need more support.”
The city of Columbus has stepped in to close some gaps in refugee resettlement. Mayor Andrew Ginther's, D-Ohio, office said in an email that the city is providing financial support by paying rent for newly resettled families while the federal resettlement funds are unavailable.
Jewish Family Services said while they have yet to lay off workers, they will have “no choice” if federal funding cuts proceed as threatened.
