A $20 million initiative in New York will support community and faith-based organizations providing services for refugees.
“New York State has a proud history of welcoming those displaced by violence or fleeing persecution with open arms,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday. “These investments will lift up refugee communities, and represent our unwavering commitment to the possibility and promise they bring to our state.”
Of the organizations receiving grants, two are chapters of Jewish Family Services of Western New York. The Buffalo office will take in $2,724,000 and the Niagara office will receive $148,741.
“JFS understands the many hurdles faced by refugee adults and youth as they pursue self-sufficiency and assimilation into their new community, most notably securing and maintaining meaningful employment,” said Molly Carr, CEO of Jewish Family Services of Western New York.
“By offering refugee-focused career services and providing wrap-around individual and family supports to assist with the transition to a new country and address any barriers to employment, we can better guide refugees on their path towards achieving financial and personal stability,” she said.
