By American Renaissance | Created at 2025-03-21 19:45:11 | Updated at 2025-04-04 13:28:41
1 week ago
A major refugee resettlement program serving Richmond has indefinitely shut down after President Trump froze funding for a federal refugee program.
Why it matters: Thousands of refugees across Virginia, including over 900 kids, rely on that program for help with housing and food.
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The big picture: There are six refugee resettlement agencies in Virginia. Two — Commonwealth Catholic Charities and the International Rescue Committee — specifically operate in Richmond.
- CCC has $750,000 worth of expenses, from refugee rental assistance to medical support, that now won’t be reimbursed because of funding cuts, spokesperson Katie Dillon told Axios.
- The faith-based nonprofit, which additionally provides housing and foster care services across Virginia, also laid off 26 staff members, including nine in Richmond, Dillon said.
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By the numbers: CCC has resettled nearly 1,500 people in the Richmond area between 2019 and 2025, according to Dillon.
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- Most are from Afghanistan, but Sudan, Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are other common countries among Richmond’s newest refugees.
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