Nrs Budget for 1943 is $2,100,000; Community Leaders Approve It

The budgetary requirements of the National Refugee Service for 1943 are $2,100,000, it was announced here today by William Rosenwald, president of the NRS. The budget was approved by a Financial Planning Committee composed of community leaders representing ten leading campaign communities in the country.

“Thousands of the 208,000 newcomers who have found haven here from Nazism, are proving to be a positive asset to America’s war effort, due in large measure to the constructive efforts of NRS,” Mr. Rosenwald said. “But it must be realized that a very large scale task remains. For the refugees here in the United States, needs of relief, family problems and employment must be alleviated. Help must be given to effect economic stability and adjustment to the American way of living. Special problems like those of the refugee physician and the full use of refugees in the war effort continue to need the attention of all of us. In 1943 as in 1942 it is vitally important that NRS continue to aid America by aiding America’s newcomers.”

The budget for 1943 is a minimum one based on the assumption that economic conditions will continue to favor refugee employment and adjustment, that Government restrictions affecting refugees will not be increased, and that refugee immigration will remain close to the level of 1942. Should any of these assumptions fail to hold, more funds may be required to meet emergencies.

In the field of financial assistance and personal services the NRS direct relief services, in 1942, constituted the largest of any agency in the country not supported by Government funds and this promises to remain true in 1943. Food, clothing and shelter must be supplied to several thousand refugees dependent upon NRS. For the coming year it is estimated a monthly average of 3,300 persons will continue to need direct cash relief while family services will be required by an additional 2,000. In 1943 these services will require $1,268,185.

To continue to meet the wartime needs of industry, NRS anticipates it will match the 6,450 job and professional placements it made in 1942. Through its retraining program, whereby men and women learn to become skilled in war industry work, NRS plans to retrain 600. To carry on this vital work in 1943, $172,490 will be required. It is expected that NRS will also help establish 500 doctors in 1943. The minimum amount to carry out this task is $114,790.

In 1943 NRS expects to provide 24,000 services in filling out visa applications, filling papers in Washington, guiding sponsors on making visa appeals, aiding refugees here on temporary visas, $54,340 is needed. To aid in the integration of the refugees who wish to establish themselves in self-supporting enterprises the agency, in 1943, will grant loans totaling $62,685. For 1943, $64,625 is allotted. To help in the work of the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars, the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Medical Scientists and the European-Jewish Children’s Aid $135,000 for 1943 is required. For general administration, including executive accounting, statistical division, and unallocated office expenses, the agency will require a minimum of $122,830.

A minimum of $167,300 is required to finance national resettlement, field service and community relations work, Mr. Rosenwald said. Since the inception of the resettlement program 14,200 persons have been removed to cities and rural areas away from crowded ports of entry, he added. The field service staff kept communities advised of enemy alien regulations and developments in addition to aiding the communities in solving certain problems in connection with resettlement migration.