When flash floods destroyed Maria’s home in Kentucky, her family was left with nothing—no food, heat, or shelter. But thanks to generous supporters, CWS is providing safe housing, warm meals and critical aid to help families like hers rebuild and find hope after disaster. When Disaster Strikes: Families Left with Nowhere to Turn Last week, flash floods tore through Maria’s* …
Shoulder to Shoulder: CWS and Churches Stand Together
February 27, 2025
For nearly 80 years, CWS has stood for welcome and for dignified, community-centered solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. We’ve never stood alone. Churches and people of faith from across the United States and around the world stand shoulder to shoulder with us in vision and mission every day. On Ash Wednesday, CWS launched The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical …
A Closer Look: The Economic Benefits of Welcoming Refugees
February 26, 2025
For decades, the United States has been a beacon of hope for those fleeing violence and persecution. Since 1975, more than 3.7 million refugees have found safety and a new home in America, where they have contributed to the nation’s culture, workforce and economy. Welcoming refugees is deeply rooted in U.S. values, and history shows that when refugees integrate and …
Rebuilding Hope: How CWS Blankets and Kits Are Transforming Lives at the Nehemiah Mission
Nick Gliha |
The Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland is dedicated to rebuilding hope and transforming communities by providing meals, temporary housing, and support for displaced families. During a visit, CWS’s Nick Gliha witnessed their powerful work firsthand—from serving warm meals to offering CWS Blankets and Kits to those in need. Below is his blog written about the recent experience. Providing Hope Through Meals …
Court Ruling Refutes White House Executive Order on Refugee Resettlement with Preliminary Injunction
February 25, 2025
Seattle, WA—Today, three national and local faith-based refugee-serving agencies and nine individuals won a preliminary injunction in the case of Pacito v. Trump. The ruling came in the first lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program (USRAP), as well as the efforts by the Trump Administration to decimate USRAP by withholding critical, congressionally-appropriated funding …
Keeping the Doors Open: How CWS Continues to Support Refugee Newcomers
Despite the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, CWS remains committed to supporting refugee and immigrant families. Through essential services in CWS local offices—ranging from legal aid and housing assistance to medical support—CWS continues to provide a lifeline for newcomers in need. For more than 75 years, CWS has stood alongside refugees and newcomers, working in partnership with communities, …
Take Action: Stand With Refugees as Court Rules Against Trump’s Indefinite Refugee Ban
On February 25, the Western District of Washington heard oral arguments in Pacito v. Trump, the first lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s refugee ban executive order. Following the hearing, the judge issued a preliminary injunction from the bench blocking the administration’s indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead said that the administration’s refugee …
Revoking Temporary Protected Status for Haitians Will Tear Apart Communities and Send Families Back to Danger
February 21, 2025
New York City–Church World Service today decries the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians living in the United States. The decision – which goes into effect in August – will place Haitians who have found safety in and worked in our communities for decades at risk of deportation back to a country experiencing devastating …
Navigating Crisis: Supporting Refugees and Migrants in Serbia
As Serbia becomes an increasingly crucial waypoint for refugees and migrants—including those fleeing Ukraine—urgent challenges such as lack of shelter, healthcare, and legal protections continue to put thousands at risk. With limited institutional support and growing migration complexities, CWS and its partners are stepping in to provide emergency relief, legal aid, and long-term solutions to help displaced individuals find safety, …
The Cost of Conflict: A Ukrainian Mother’s Story of Survival
In 2024, CWS launched operations in Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast province to provide essential services such as food distribution, medical and psychosocial support and protection for vulnerable groups, in partnership with local organizations. As part of this work, CWS and local partners visited communities in January 2025 to assess winterization needs. The following blog is a testimony from one of the …