The social service agency was unable to raise needed funds to continue operating as a nonprofit, according to a news release. The organization announced May 10 that it planned to restructure to account for “severe budget shortfalls,” but those efforts were not enough to recover financially, the agency announced May 26. The agency will fully shut down by July, but it has already stopped servicing clients, spokesperson Chris Kelley said.
Refugee Services of Texas is dedicated to resettling and providing services to refugees and other displaced persons. Since its founding in 1978, the agency has resettled more than 26,000 refugees, according to the news release. The Dallas service center, which is the agency’s original center, services refugees from over 30 countries.
“This agency has faithfully carried out its mission to serve vulnerable populations ... and has touched thousands of lives along the way,” Refugee Services of Texas CEO David McKeever said in a news release. “This decision was not made lightly. The board carefully examined every option and took crucial steps in the weeks leading up to this decision in an attempt to recover [Refugee Services of Texas’] remaining operations after severe budget shortfalls, but we are now forced to close our doors.”
The agency’s current refugee clients will be referred to other existing state or national refugee resettlement programs, according to the news release.
Refugee Services of Texas also has centers in Amarillo, Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio. The Dallas service center is located at 11880 Greenville Ave., Ste. 130, Dallas. 214-821-4883. www.rstx.org
