Catholic Charities Ends Resettlement Program in Columbia

By Marisa Tesoro

The resettlement program at Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri will come to an end on March 31, 2025.  

Due to a lack of federal funding, CCCNMO has made the decision to no longer provide refugee resettlement services. Their headquarters in Jefferson City will continue to provide other programs, including food assistance, disaster relief, and essential family services.  

“We deeply appreciate your partnership and shared commitment to serving those in need,” Litz Main, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, said in a statement. “As we navigate this transition, we welcome opportunities to collaborate in new ways to continue supporting refugee families in our region.” 

In the meantime, City of Refuge in Columbia and Della Lamb in Kansas City have agreed to provide resettlement services to ORR-eligible clients in and around Central Missouri.  

For 14 years, CCCNMO served as a local resettlement agency in Columbia. An affiliate of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, they were contracted with the State Department to resettle refugees and other ORR-eligible families in the area: welcoming new arrivals at the airport, setting up their new homes, enrolling kids in school, preparing parents for employment, and so much more. Since 2018, CCCNMO resettled more than 1,000 refugees in Central Missouri, including 282 Afghan evacuees during Operation Allies Welcome.

CCCNMO has made an indelible impact on communities across Central Missouri, and we will not soon forget the efforts of our colleagues and friends there. We are also grateful to have partners who are willing to pitch in and continue to ensure clients’ needs are met, wherever they live in Missouri.