http://www.kcjc.com/200906198550/news/times-are-tough-for-jvs-its-clients.html

Times are tough for JVS, its clients

Written by Beth Lipoff, Staff Writer

Friday, 19 June 2009 12:00

Jewish Vocational Services, like many other social-service organizations, is feeling the strain of budget cuts and the economic slowdown. Last month, the Kansas City Star ran a story detailing shortcomings in the Jewish Vocational Services’ refugee-resettlement program.

Living conditions have improved for this Sudanese refugee family — mother Wafa Kut and father Flamin Suraj and children Mustafa, (from left) Muiziin and Mohmed.

A Sudanese refugee family from Darfur featured in the story complained of a dirty, moldy apartment with no hot water.

“That was definitely a situation where we could have done better,” said JVS Executive Director Joy Foster. “As soon as I paid a home visit, we got the family moved, and they are settled into another apartment and doing very well.”

The family of five — father Flamin Suraj, mother Wafa Kut and children Mohmed, 6, Mustafa, 4, and Muiziin, 2 — are indeed settled into a new place at TimberLine, an apartment complex at NE 38th and North Holmes streets in North Kansas City, Mo. The complex houses many refugee families resettled by JVS.

The original apartment “wasn’t horrible — it just needed some work,” Foster said. “We didn’t do a very good job of communicating to the landlord.”

Suraj said he likes his new apartment very much.

Foster said she thought other issues mentioned in the article, such as a man having trouble obtaining a prosthesis, were “not portrayed accurately.”

Cal Cohen, president of the JVS board of directors, said he is confident in Foster’s abilities to manage JVS through this difficult time.

“I’m sure there are people who sometimes don’t do their best, but I know Joy has investigated to be sure that people do their jobs and that it won’t happen again, if all those things (in the story) were true,” Cohen said.
Shrinking budget That doesn’t mean JVS isn’t feeling a pinch. The agency receives an annual refugee social-service grant, made up of federal monies funneled through the state of Missouri. The amount JVS gets is based on the number of refugees it serves over a three-year period.

Because JVS’s refugee numbers had fallen during the previous three-year period, its annual funding for post-arrival services dropped from $470,000 last year to $320,000 this year. Then refugee arrivals increased, putting the squeeze on agency finances. And because JVS has just begun a new three-year cycle, Foster said, it could take two more years before its annual post-arrival funding goes back up.

“The whole situation is really difficult right now, because of the job situation and the economy … we’re struggling after they arrive, finding employment for them. There’s a limited amount of funding for each refugee, and if they can’t get a job as quickly as they have historically, they’re responsible for all of their finances in short order … Without a job, it’s difficult for them to pay the bills,” Foster said. “It’s not like no one’s getting jobs, but it’s a lot more difficult.”

JVS’s national partner, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, provides funding for pre-arrival and arrival costs, as well as for the first few months in the United States, though not necessarily six months, as stated in the Star’s story, Foster said.

JVS can’t simply reduce the number of refugees it brings to Kansas City, because the State Department determines how many people will be allowed in the country as refugees and parcels them out amongst about 300 agencies nationwide.

During his last year in office, “President Bush designated 80,000 refugees to arrive this fiscal year, plus 5,000 special immigrants, (which is) up 15,000 over 2008 … the timing (was bad). I think that’s hurt all resettlement agencies. This isn’t just a JVS story,” Foster said.

Even if JVS could stop taking refugees for a while, Foster said she wouldn’t want to halt the program.

“We offer them a new beginning, and I would not want to stop that. It’s going to be difficult for a little while, but I have total confidence that it will get better,” Foster said. “We do have refugees that are getting jobs. (Suraj) has had a second interview and should be starting soon at a good job, so positive things are happening.”

Foster said members of the Jewish and general communities have “been wonderful” in helping the agency cope. JVS has received emergency funds for rent and utilities from the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, she said, and the Jewish Federation and Jewish Heritage Foundation have both offered to help in some way.

In light of the recent story, “the people of Kansas City have risen to the occasion and have called us and offered to help through volunteering and through furniture donations,” Foster said.

How you can help JVS

JVS needs donations to furnish homes for refugees — everything from beds to dishes. A complete wish list is available at its Web site. Go to www.jvskc.org and click “programs and services” and “Center for New Americans.” Contact Joy Foster at jcfoster@jvskc.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to arrange an appointment for a JVS truck to pick up any donations.