NORTHAMPTON — Welcome Home Northampton, the refugee resettlement program through the Catholic Charities Agency, has been closed, citing federal budget cuts affecting its team like other resettlement and foreign aid agencies are seeing in the recent months.
Having started in 2017 with 13 arrivals, the numbers have steadily grown over the years reaching 318 arrivals in the past year.
“Over the course of these eight years we helped over 1,500 newcomers — refugees, immigrants, humanitarian parolees, asylum seekers, victims of torture, unaccompanied refugee minors — start their new lives in the U.S.A. This would have never been possible without your help,” Welcome Home Refugee Resettlement posted on Facebook in an announcement of the closure.
Diocese of Springfield Catholic Communications manager Mark Dupont spoke to Reminder Publishing on the announced closing as direct members of Welcome Home Northampton were unable to be contacted as of print time. Dupont said Welcome Home Northampton had been one of the first hosts for groups migrating to the U.S. in Western Massachusetts, and had done a commendable job for the better half of a decade.
Dupont did credit the community of Northampton at large for its effort and willingness to help those looking to find a new home in the country.
“I think the reception that was given to these individuals who came to our country legally by the Northampton community was tremendous. They reached out to us and the individuals coming here to really make them feel at home and help folks settle in Western Massachusetts,” Dupont said. “The group is to be commended for the work they did. Unfortunately, circumstances have drastically changed, and we no longer provide this service.”
With such a blow to services, Dupont noted Catholic Charities of Springfield would have a new director who will work with the agencies in Western Massachusetts on finding a new way forward with these services during this challenging period. Shortly after, the Bishop William Byrne announced Shaina Rodriguez as the new director.
“Please remember that even though the Refugee Resettlement Program is no more, refugees are still here, and more than ever they need your help,” the post said.
