FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2019
CONTACT: media@cwsglobal.org
CWS Richmond Office to Close in September 2019
CWS will continue to advocate with refugees and immigrants in Virginia to rebuild the U.S. refugee resettlement program
Richmond, VA—Church World Service today announced that its refugee resettlement office in Richmond, Virginia will be closing at the end of September at the close of the government fiscal year. The office closure follows the administration’s drastic cuts to refugee admissions and the zeroing out of the refugee resettlement program at CWS Richmond for fiscal year 2019.
Since January 2017 refugee arrivals have been slashed by 75% to an all-time low, devastating refugee families in desperate need of safety and blocking the ability of American communities to live out their values of welcome and generosity.
“For decades we have proudly partnered with the community of Richmond to help refugee families rebuild their lives in safety, and we are thankful for the overwhelming support and welcome the people of Richmond have provided to their new neighbors. Over the next several months we will work with our clients and partner agencies to ensure that the refugee families we serve will continue to receive the support and services they need,” said CWS President and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough.
“Though our Richmond office is closing, our work to build welcoming communities is far from over. We will continue to advocate with our refugee and immigrant neighbors in Richmond and throughout the United States and press Congress and the administration to rebuild the vitally important refugee resettlement program,” added Rev. McCullough.
For decades CWS has served refugees, asylees, parolees and Special Immigrant Visas holders in the Richmond area, originally through the Virginia Council of Churches followed by the opening of the CWS Richmond office in 2012. Alongside community partners, local churches and volunteers, CWS Richmond has proudly welcomed hundreds of refugee arrivals into the Richmond area providing basic needs support, comprehensive case management services, health services, individualized employment preparedness and placement, and highly competent cultural and linguistic services.
For more information on the CWS Richmond office closure, please read this letter from CWS Virginia director John Baumann.
Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty.
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