Hochul announces $20 million for refugee employment initiative

New York state is using $20 million to help refugees find and keep jobs, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday. The funding will go to 17 community organizations across the state.

The initiative aims to provide comprehensive support to refugees, addressing the challenges they face when entering the labour market.

New York welcomed nearly 4,200 refugees, or special immigrant visa holders, between 2022 and 2023.

Jewish Family Services of Western New York received more than $2.7 million through the program.

“We are very pleased to announce the new Refugee Social Services Program, which allows us to provide direct job placement and career services to refugees coming to Western New York,” said Molly Carr, CEO of Jewish Family Services.

The program offers support services including health support, childcare assistance and English language skills development. Local businesses also participate in the initiative.

“We offer the opportunity on a temporary basis… on a temporary basis, I always tell them, maybe only three to six months. If they want to stay longer, they can, but we don’t expect them to stay forever,” said Scott Swagler, general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Buffalo.

The program is open to refugees who arrived through the U.S. Department of State process, asylees, certified victims of trafficking, and holders of special immigration visas.

In the Capital Region, the American Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Inc. will receive $1.78 million and Albany County Opportunity Inc. will receive $342,566; while in central New York, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County received more than $4 million, according to the governor’s office.

This initiative stands out from previous efforts in its comprehensive approach and significant funding, which addresses a variety of barriers to employment beyond job placement.

Local businesses see this as an opportunity to fill vacancies while supporting the refugee community, providing valuable first-time work experience, and helping refugees acclimate to the American work environment.