Della Lamb furloughs 40 percent of staff due to Trump executive orders, refugees unsure of future
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Della Lamb just let go of 40 percent of its refugee services team. The decision came after a series of ripple effects that started under the Trump istration in January.
This includes the suspension of their refugee resettlement program, a stop-work order affecting its reception and placement program, and a freeze on federal funds. Refugees come to Della Lamb to start a new life in Kansas City and now are unsure what that future will look like.
“Our clients are nervous,” said Della Lamb refugee services director Sarah Kolsto.
Della Lamb said they made a promise to their refugees to help make their transition to the United States as smooth as possible. They plan to keep that promise, although they said it’s been a rocky road.
“I talked to a client the other day, he said I came here for peace and safety. I was trapped in a refugee camp for 30 years and he said I came here for peace and safety, and now I’m nervous that I don’t have that,” said Kolsto.
A stop-work order for its reception and placement program disrupted services for new refugee arrivals and took away federal aid that would help with housing costs during their first 90 days in the U.S. All staff from that program were let go, along with the majority of the refugee health promotion program.
“Ultimately, our clients, our refugee clients, are the ones who will suffer, but obviously it has ripple effects for our staff that we’ve had to furlough that have families that they’re ing,” said Kolsto.
They are turning to private funding and community donations for additional to make up for the loss of federal funding. Groups have also been matched with refugee families to help them transition with wraparound services.
“To pull things away from some of our most vulnerable community leaves them dependent on public benefits, leaves them more at-risk of being homeless,” said Kolsto.
Kolsto said the cuts on federal funding will create a ripple effect on the entire community and are looking for volunteers and donors to bridge the gap.
“Everybody can do something even if it’s small, or in their eyes it’s small. It’s not small to us and to the people that we’re ing,” she said.
More information about Della Lamb can be found online.
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