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Edmonton (February 23, 2023) – Catholic Social Services (CSS) is making an urgent appeal to Albertans for help. With hundreds of Ukrainians arriving in central and northern Alberta each week, alongside an influx of refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Syria, the agency needs to raise at least $100,000 to help meet the increased demand for services. 

Domestic abuse has been referred to as COVID-19's "shadow pandemic." How has Catholic Social Services responded to the increased need for support? Watch Global's Trending to find out.

Catholic Social Services’ staff face unprecedented demands for assistance as they face crises both locally and international. In just one area of the agency’s work, refugee resettlement, over the past year, CSS has resettled more than 800 Afghan refugees, and supported hundreds of Ukrainian Nationals across central Alberta. This is in addition to the agency’s typical refugee caseload, which involves resettling as many as 900 government assisted and privately sponsored refugees each year, from across the globe.  

Christmas celebrations were a whole lot different in the refugee camp Mu Go and Moo Aua Go lived in for most of their lives. In fact, there was very little cause to celebrate at all. Access to food, health care, and education was scarce, and without these basic necessities, the siblings suffered. Their teenage brother, Sa Nay, was severely physically disabled and could not walk, and had medical needs that went untreated. His only chance was resettlement in another country.

When our team found Agnes, her cupboards were empty, she had no medication to manage her illnesses, and no phone to call for the help she so desperately needed. 

Our Welcome Home program helps recently-housed people, like Frank, combat the social isolation which drives so many back to the streets. 

We know that COVID-19 will drive rates of domestic violence and increase the rates of homelessness for at-risk women and their children. 

Many individuals are adjusting to a life in isolation and are feeling scared and uncertain about what tomorrow will bring. Our counselling staff are working around the clock to help individuals in Edmonton, Red Deer, Lloydminister and Wetaskiwin, cope with their feelings of despair.