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Polk County hears plea to help refugees after federal resettlement funding pause
Summary
County staff and a refugee-services leader told Polk County supervisors that a federal pause on resettlement funding has stopped case management and cash assistance for roughly 496 legally resettled people, and asked the board to consider one-time help while staff checks funding options.
Mark Sachezka, who oversees Global Neighbors, told Polk County supervisors that a federal pause on refugee resettlement funding has halted case management, immunizations and short-term cash support for hundreds of legally resettled refugees now living in Polk County.
“Right now, we have 496,” Sachezka said, describing the number of individuals affected. He told the board the most immediate problems are lack of food access and interrupted case management that helps families enroll children in school, get immunizations and apply for public benefits.
Sachezka said the pause affects refugees who already have legal status and have been resettled here, including those classified under I-94 and special immigrant visas (SIVs) for Iraqis and Afghans who worked for the U.S. government overseas. He said resettlement…
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