KDSN RADIO News
Lutheran Services loses one third of employees after federal cut
(Radio Iowa) – Lutheran Services says the loss in federal funding led to about one-third of its 100 employees who assisted immigrants and refugees being laid off last month. The director of immigration and refugee services, Nick Wuertz says the impact of the funding cut goes beyond L-S-I. “It’s well documented that even though we’re welcoming people here for humanitarian reasons, they are significant net contributors to our state and local economy,” he says. “Not only does it not make humanitarian sense, but it also doesn’t make any economic sense for us to not continue to invite people here that want to build a new life and contribute to our communities.” the cuts included 17 people in Des Moines, six in Waterloo and seven in Sioux City who helped the immigrants.
“We see the folks that we welcome continue on to work in the local community, contribute to the workforce, and many of them even start small businesses, so it’s really sad, and there’s a huge blow and loss for the community,” Wuertz says. Wuertz says private donations are helping keep about half of the impacted employees on the job through April. “I think that’s been the one bright spot in all of this is just seeing how much Iowans truly care and how much people in local communities really value their immigrant refugee neighbors and value the diversity and the contributions they bring to the community,” he says.
Wuertz says L-S-I was owed one-point-five million dollars in back payments following the cuts and 400-thousand dollars is still outstanding. Wuertz says the organization is still looking for money to help immigrants and refugees with higher rent and utility costs. He adds that travel has stopped for all new arrivals, even people vetted and screened to come into the country.
