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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 agencies typically receive one-time reception-and-placement funds — $1,125 per person — to cover housing deposits, food and basic needs during the first 90 days, and that agencies also receive a provider payment (stated in the meeting as $2,250 per person) that covers administrative and case-management costs.
“This is dire. All services have ceased. Families are not able to receive immunizations. They’re not able to receive case management. Children are not able to be enrolled into school,” Sachezka said.
County supervisors and staff asked questions about the scale and duration of the need and whether the county should provide one-time assistance only for the immediate 90-day gap. Supervisors pressed staff to identify funding sources that might be used for a temporary response, including whether county emergency rental or other pandemic-related funds could be applied, and asked staff to return with options.
Polk County supervisors were told specific resettlement agencies operating in the region include Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Catholic Charities and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Sachezka said USCRI had already laid off four case managers. He said school food pantries are being emptied because families are using school-distributed food at home, and expressed concern that some families may face eviction and add to the local homeless population.
Supervisors emphasized they do not intend to replace the federal resettlement program long term; rather, staff were asked to develop short-term options and report back. Supervisor comments referenced Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) and other county funding streams as possibilities to investigate. No formal motion or vote was recorded on providing county funds during the meeting.
Staff committed to gather missing details the board requested, including household counts, why agencies are not currently delivering services despite having received funds for some arrivals, and how existing local and state programs (transportation supports, school enrollment procedures, and local health providers) can be mobilized while the federal review continues.
Next steps: staff will return with more precise numbers on households affected, a breakdown of the funding gap, options for one-time assistance, and legal/eligibility guidance for using county funds. The board did not adopt any funding decision during the session.
