NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Nashville announced it will undergo a major restructuring due to recent federal funding cuts to the U.S. refugee resettlement program.
“In recent months, federal actions have severely weakened the national resettlement infrastructure,” said Judy Orr, executive director of Nashville’s Catholic Charities. “When our national partner, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, ended its participation in the program, it became clear that we could no longer sustain this work locally, even if refugee admissions were to resume at previous levels.”
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As a result, Orr said the organization will lay off 51 staff members through mid-September and also close their ‘New Americans’ program. She added that they are expecting more layoffs in the coming weeks because of the concurrent loss of ancillary overhead funding tied to these federal programs.
“Compounding these challenges is the high cost of living in the Nashville area, particularly the lack of affordable housing,” Orr said. “For years, federal stipends to support refugee housing and basic needs have remained unchanged, even as local expenses have continued to rapidly rise.”…