Providing help and creating hope in Maine
Brewer, ME – Catholic Charities Maine (CCM) will close its Greater Bangor Refugee & Immigration Services (RIS) office as of June 30, 2025. The Agency’s refugee services offices in Southern Maine will remain open. Additionally, the RIS office closure does not impact any other CCM programs operating at the Greater Bangor location.
The decision was made in consideration of the current federal administration’s suspension of refugee resettlement, the loss of federal funding, and Greater Bangor being the area with the smallest concentration of the Agency’s refugee clients.
“The Greater Bangor community has been welcoming and supportive of refugees and it is because of this that we trust our clients who have resettled here will continue to thrive,” says Stephen Letourneau, CEO. “I cannot thank our community partners enough for their support over these past 2 ½ years. Together we have witnessed the positive impact our new arrivals have made here, and I know greater Bangor has certainly benefited,” Letourneau adds.
With no new arrivals since January 13th, 2025, Catholic Charities has completed the intensive 90-day period of resettlement services for all clients. The Agency is working with fellow community organizations to support refugees’ future needs as well as ensuring access to staff at its southern Maine offices.
There are more than 44 million refugees worldwide in need of humanitarian relief and safe resettlement. Catholic Charities Maine remains dedicated to serving refugees and advocating for the resumption of the decades-long refugee resettlement program here in the United States, so this vulnerable population is not forgotten.
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