New donor-funded program fills gaps left by funding cuts

For refugee families, the first years in the United States are often the most uncertain.

When federal funding for refugee resettlement services was cut last year, newly arrived families who were still searching for steady employment and trying to secure adequate housing suddenly had critical resources stripped away. At Global Refuge, we knew we needed to find a way to continue serving vulnerable families without interruption—and we called on our supporters to help.

With support from the Hackerman Foundation and our donor community, we launched the Post-Arrival Stability and Empowerment (PASE) program in April 2025 to fill urgent gaps left by stop-work orders and funding freezes.

In 2025, PASE served 171 people—providing employment support, connection to healthcare and benefits, school enrollment for children, emergency rent assistance, and more.

One of the families supported through PASE was a Syrian family of six referred to us for help finding stability after resettlement. The family had been in the U.S. for a year but struggled to find stable employment—only one of the three adults in the family had a full-time job and his income alone was not enough to support the household. The family was also living in an apartment with safety and space concerns, adding to their stress.

With emergency assistance from PASE, Global Refuge was able to cover the rent for the family to prevent eviction. At the same time, we provided employment services to the father and adult son, who faced barriers including limited English proficiency and a lack of U.S. work history. Our team helped them fill out job applications, prepare for interviews, and contact potential employers.

After a month of working with Global Refuge, both members of the family secured full-time employment. This milestone marked the family’s first experience with stable, living-wage employment since arriving in the United States.

Two months later, the family was able to move into a larger townhouse in a more supportive neighborhood, where they continue to live, work, and thrive.

At a time when shifts in immigration policy are leaving many newly arrived families without the resources they need, donor-funded programs like PASE ensure that we can continue to welcome, support and uplift our refugee neighbors, just as we have since 1939.