Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, which only a few years ago built its fancy ($$$) new office building, is in financial ruin.
Well that is one less resettlement subcontractor of the hundreds operating around the US that are eagerly awaiting the new flood of refugees Biden and Harris are promising.
Here is the news (welcomed by those North Dakotans who have been strenuously objecting to the placement of more impoverished third worlders into their state).
From the Grand Forks Herald (hat tip: John):
Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota to close its doors; 283 jobs will be affected
FARGO — Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota CEO and President Bob Otterson told employees in a company-wide video meeting Friday, Jan. 15, that the 102-year-old agency will be closing its doors.
In an emotional exchange, Otterson — who has been in the position for only 45 days — told employees that, due to the heavy drain on resources caused by LSSND’s housing department, the agency could no longer survive. Otterson said the ongoing financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic also compounded the agency’s financial difficulties.
Otterson said several LSSND programs will continue, including the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program and Abound Counseling, but they will no longer be known as part of the agency.
Otterson said that as part of the agency’s controlled liquidation plan, many employees will receive notification that their jobs have ended today, but some staff will continue working for several more weeks to help transition clients to other agencies.
Keep reading, apparently they got out on a financial limb in the housing industry (I’ve never understood the housing industry involvement refugee contractors have gotten into.).
The scope of social services LSS offers is broad, including counseling, aid for youth and families, and affordable housing. However, in recent years, the organization is perhaps most often associated with refugee resettlement.
It’s taken criticism over the number of refugees who have come to North Dakota, in recent years in particular.
To learn more about the huge controversy over refugees in North Dakota see my archive on the state.
See LSSND’s most recent IRS Form 990 by clicking here. Note that in an income stream in that most recent year of $18 million, over $8 million came from government grants (that of course is you, the taxpayers!).
Here is a screenshot of their income page. Be sure to scroll through to see salaries and other expenses.
I never thought of it before, but I wonder if taxpayers in ND can ask for an audit of where all the grant money came from and where it went.
By the way, LSSND was a subcontractor of one of the big nine federal contractors, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. The US State Department funnels refugees through one of the big nine which in turn funnels federal dollars and refugees to its so-called affiliates (aka subcontractors).
That map above locates the subcontractors and identifies who their motherships are.
For new readers here are the top nine supposed charities that put refugees before American citizens.
