DoomsdaysCW<p>[Thread] [Links for ways to donate in thread] <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineRefugee" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineRefugee</span></a> agencies scramble to preserve basic services after State Department cuts off funding </p><p>Maine Public | By Ari Snider<br>Published January 29, 2025 </p><p>"Days after suspending the federal refugee admissions program, the Trump administration issued a second directive ordering resettlement agencies to stop providing basic assistance to refugees already in the country. Though much remains uncertain, it's already disrupted services in Maine.</p><p>"Typically, the federal government reimburses resettlement agencies up to $1,650 for certain expenses related to housing, food, and other basic needs during the first 90 days after a refugee arrives, plus $1,350 per refugee for administrative costs and staff positions.</p><p>"But <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/InzaOuattara" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InzaOuattara</span></a>, Maine's refugee coordinator through <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CatholicCharities" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CatholicCharities</span></a>, said the State Department advised last week that it will no longer cover those costs.</p><p>"Ouattara said that could have immediate consequences for about 200 newly-arrived refugees in Maine.</p><p>"'They are all in temporary housing and hotels,' Outtara said. 'Where are these small refugees agency that we have in Maine to get the money to pay for those hotels?'</p><p>"Outtara said this directive is separate from the Trump Administration's now-rescinded memo ordering a widespread freeze on government grants and loans.</p><p>"Following the State Department's directive, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RilwanOsman" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RilwanOsman</span></a>, executive director of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MaineImmigrantAndRefugeeServices" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MaineImmigrantAndRefugeeServices</span></a>, in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LewistonMaine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LewistonMaine</span></a>, said he's already had to lay off about half a dozen employees.</p><p>"But he said his group will not abandon the roughly 100 refugees in its care.</p><p>"'The support might be limited, but again, as an organization, as a human being, we have that moral obligation to continue supporting these families, despite the challenges,' he said.</p><p>"Osman said he's hoping to raise some emergency stopgap funding through an appeal to the local community.</p><p>"The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine is also scrambling to find new funding streams, said Micaela Tepler, with the group's resettlement team.</p><p>"She said that's led to temporary delays in delivering basic needs such as groceries.</p><p>"'So even if they're going to get the same services from a different funding, it's going to take a week or two until we're really effective at providing that,' Tepler said. 'So for clients, there is a real pause, and I think this week has been really, really scary and difficult for them.'</p><p>"The <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USRefugeeAdmissionsProgram" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USRefugeeAdmissionsProgram</span></a> is a decades-old legal pathway for individuals fleeing violence and persecution. Refugees admitted through the program are vetted by various federal agencies before being assigned to state-level resettlement agencies."</p><p><a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-01-29/maine-refugee-agencies-scramble-to-preserve-basic-services-after-state-department-cuts-off-funding" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">mainepublic.org/politics/2025-</span><span class="invisible">01-29/maine-refugee-agencies-scramble-to-preserve-basic-services-after-state-department-cuts-off-funding</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MainePublic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MainePublic</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NPR" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NPR</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/News" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>News</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MainePol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MainePol</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Fundraising" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fundraising</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Refugees" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Refugees</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RefugeeAid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RefugeeAid</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NewMainers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NewMainers</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Immigrants" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Immigrants</span></a></p>