Donation drought threatening group that helps refugees, immigrants

A local organization which has helped thousands of refugees, immigrants and just plain newcomers start new lives in Newfoundland and Labrador may have to close its office.

The Refugee Immigrant Advisory Council says it's running out of money at a time when its services are needed more than ever.

The council has relied on donations and the efforts of volunteers ever since it started more than 30 years ago.

The volunteers may be as dedicated as ever, but the donations have largely dried up because of the current economic climate, said Jose Rivera, the council's volunteer executive director.

"It is bad in the sense that for the first time we are facing the possibility of closure," Rivera told Here and Now Tuesday.

The council has been around long enough to have seen the arrival of the Tamils in 1987, followed by all the other waves of refugees and immigrants, from the Cubans and the Bulgarians in the early 1990s to the African refugees of more recent years.

Lately, more and more Syrians have been arriving.

Under Rivera's leadership, the council's mandate has expanded from advocating for refugee and immigrant rights to being a versatile information centre for newcomers of all stripes. 

The council's annual budget is more than $95,000.

Money runs out at month's end

Rivera said as newcomers keep arriving, everybody benefits, including the province.

"They're going to have very well connected and very well participating newcomers. As opposed to someone hanging around, without employment, living on social assistance, homeless or whatnot, causing problems even," he stated.

The council's dependence on donations has given it the flexibility to respond without any red tape as needs arise.

It's also left it vulnerable to economic uncertainty.

Rivera said without more donations, the money needed to keep operating runs out at the end of March.

He expects donations will eventually pick up again, but he's worried about the next few months.

"We're looking for $4,000 right now," he said.