Recently resettled refugees in our community are at risk. On January 24th, the current administration put out a stop work order in place pertaining to all foreign aid and halted all arrivals through the United States Refugee Arrival Program (USRAP). This means that no new families or individuals will arrive in the United States for at minimum ninety days, and that recent arrivals are effectively marooned, because funding earmarked for families and individuals in their first 90 days is categorized as foreign aid. As a result of this loss of funding, 731 refugees in our community are suddenly without assistance and have no access to housing, food, or vital resources as they work to establish new lives and move towards self-sufficiency.  

Now, we must step up when to fulfill the promise America made to recent arrivals as they make Western New York their home. One way that Jewish Family Services of WNY is doing so is through a collaborative emergency fundraising effort alongside other local organizations working tirelessly to support recently arrived individuals and families. JFS is a member of The Refugee Partnership (TRP), a collaborative project envisioned by the five Buffalo agencies that serve refugees, and we are partnering to respond to the crisis we find ourselves in.  

Beginning Friday, February 7, 2025, we must collectively raise $1.5 million to provide people who have arrived in our community within the last 90 days with the supports that they need, and Jewish Family Services of WNY is working tirelessly to contribute to these fundraising efforts as a TRP member.   These supports include:  

• Housing 

• Food 

• Medical assistance  

• Case management (assisting with school enrollments, application for benefits, accompaniment to court appointments)  

You can make a difference for your newest neighbors today. Your financial contributions are critical as we seek to fill the funding gaps left by the federal government. Typically, it costs $3,000 to provide each person with support as they begin anew in Western New York. Regardless of whether you can sponsor the full cost or only a fraction of someone’s resettlement, every donation to the Refugee Crisis Response Fund is vitally important. In addition to donating, sharing this campaign with your networks and encourage them to learn more about this issue.  

With a long and rich tradition of welcoming the stranger rooted deeply in our Jewish values, JFS knows that the work we do supporting refugees and immigrants in our community cannot stop. These individuals and families bring an entirely new level of richness and compassion to the fabric of our lives, and we would be poorer for their loss. You have the opportunity to ensure this doesn’t happen by standing with us and showing your support today.