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InterFaith Works, a Syracuse-based nonprofit, has laid off 19 employees following the elimination of federal aid for refugee resettlement programs by President Donald Trump's administration. The organization, which assists refugees in starting new lives in Syracuse, has not received reimbursement from the federal government for expenses since January. The layoffs affect nearly 50% of the staff at the nonprofit's Center for New Americans, leaving about 26 employees to continue providing services to the 430 refugees who arrived in Syracuse before the funding cuts.
Beth Broadway, the agency's CEO, stated that despite the layoffs, InterFaith Works will not cut the services it provides to the community. "We’re not going away," Broadway told syracuse.com. "We’re not closing our doors. We have a lot of people who are depending on us." The organization has also reduced the salaries of its top executives and cut operational expenses to cope with the financial shortfall.
InterFaith Works is not alone in facing these challenges. Catholic Charities of Onondaga County also laid off 51 employees due to the suspension of refugee resettlement programs and the loss of $1.7 million in government grants. The funding cuts are being challenged in the courts, but the uncertainty has left many refugees in Syracuse at risk of losing essential services. Broadway warned that without federal support, refugees might struggle to meet basic needs like housing and food.