Catholic Charities of Tennessee — Refugee Services

Catholic Charities of Tennessee — Refugee Services is a nonprofit organization based in Nashville that provides support to refugees and other displaced individuals seeking new opportunities in the United States. Established as part of the broader Catholic Charities of Tennessee, the Refugee Services program helps newcomers integrate into American society through housing assistance, language training, employment support, and cultural orientation. The program has contributed to shaping Nashville's demographics and social fabric over several decades, reflecting the city's posture toward welcoming immigrants and building inclusive communities. The organization works in partnership with federal and local agencies, as well as faith-based groups, to ensure that refugees receive comprehensive care from arrival to long-term stability. Its work has helped establish Nashville as a significant center for refugee resettlement in the southeastern United States, a status documented in annual reporting by the Tennessee Office for Refugees, a division of the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

History

The Refugee Services program of Catholic Charities of Tennessee started in the early 1980s, when the organization began responding to the growing need for assistance to refugees fleeing conflicts in Southeast Asia. Initially, the program focused on Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, many of whom had been resettled in Nashville as part of a national initiative coordinated through the U.S. Department of State's Reception and Placement program. The 1980 Refugee Act had formalized the federal resettlement framework, and Catholic Charities affiliates across the country, including Tennessee, quickly became primary implementation partners under cooperative agreements with the State Department and the newly created Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Over time, the scope expanded. The early and mid-1990s brought new refugee populations to Nashville, including Somali and Bosnian families displaced by conflict on two continents simultaneously. Those years tested the program's capacity and required rapid staff expansion and new language resources. Refugees from Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe were served, reflecting broader global displacement trends that reshaped resettlement programs across the United States throughout that decade.

A key moment in the program's development came in the late 1990s, when Catholic Charities partnered with the U.S. Department of State and the Office of Refugee Resettlement to formalize its operations and secure long-term funding. This collaboration allowed the organization to scale its services, including establishing a dedicated resettlement office in Nashville's Midtown neighborhood. The organization is affiliated with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Migration and Refugee Services network, the national body that coordinates resettlement work across the country's Catholic Charities affiliates, providing programmatic guidance and federal contract oversight.

The program faced numerous challenges along the way. Periods of underfunding forced difficult operational choices, and the organization had to adapt repeatedly to changing refugee demographics. During the Syrian refugee crisis of the 2010s, Catholic Charities of Tennessee played a significant role in resettling hundreds of families from Syria, requiring rapid expansion of capacity and staff training programs. Those years also saw the organization deepen its employer partnerships in the Nashville area, recognizing that economic self-sufficiency was impossible without labor market access.

The organization has not been without controversy. In 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declined to renew an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities for migrant shelter services, a funding cut that materially affected the organization's capacity and forced an internal review of operations. That development came alongside broader federal reductions to refugee admissions ceilings under executive action, a policy context that has reshaped resettlement volumes nationwide. Despite these obstacles, the Refugee Services program has remained a leading institution in Nashville's refugee community, earning recognition from local and national organizations. The program serves thousands of individuals across Middle Tennessee annually, with a focus on long-term integration and self-sufficiency.

Leadership

In April 2025, Kerry Graham was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of Tennessee, succeeding the organization's previous head upon his retirement. Graham's appointment marked a leadership transition at a particularly complex moment for the organization, given ongoing federal funding pressures and shifting refugee admissions policy. The organization's leadership has also been engaged in public advocacy. In early 2026, a Catholic voice within the organization spoke out against Tennessee legislation viewed as hostile to immigrants, reflecting the organization's broader commitment to advocacy alongside direct services.

Services and Programs

Catholic Charities of Tennessee's Refugee Services program provides a structured set of services designed to move clients from initial arrival toward long-term economic independence. Reception and Placement services are typically the first point of contact. Staff coordinate housing, basic furnishings, initial food supplies, and airport reception for newly arrived refugees, meeting federal Reception and Placement program standards set by the U.S. Department of State under cooperative agreements that govern the first 90 days of resettlement. These early weeks are critical, and the organization moves quickly.

Employment services form a core part of the program's work. Case managers connect clients with job training, resume preparation, and employer partnerships in the Nashville area, with the goal of achieving economic self-sufficiency within the federally defined resettlement window. The Matching Grant program, administered through the Office of Refugee Resettlement and implemented by USCCB affiliates including Catholic Charities of Tennessee, provides an alternative to public cash assistance and is designed specifically to accelerate employment outcomes by offering intensive case management and transitional support during the critical first months after arrival. English language learning programs run alongside employment services, offering classes at varying proficiency levels and often incorporating job-specific vocabulary instruction. The program also operates Family Resource Centers, which serve as ongoing community touchpoints for clients after initial resettlement is complete.

Additional services address health access, legal orientation, and benefits enrollment. Handling American healthcare and legal systems is genuinely difficult for people arriving from other countries, and the organization provides orientation sessions in multiple languages to reduce those barriers. Interpreters are available across a wide range of languages reflecting current client demographics. Youth-focused programming, including after-school tutoring and vocational training for young adults, rounds out the organization's service portfolio and addresses the significant proportion of clients who are under 18.

Partnerships and Affiliations

Catholic Charities of Tennessee does not operate in isolation. Its Refugee Services program functions within a layered network of federal, state, and local partners whose coordination is essential to the resettlement process. At the federal level, the organization holds cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and receives programmatic funding through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the Administration for Children and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services. Nationally, the organization is affiliated with USCCB Migration and Refugee Services, which provides contract oversight, training standards, and policy guidance to Catholic Charities refugee programs across all 50 states.

At the state level, the Tennessee Office for Refugees serves as the State Refugee Coordinator and oversees the distribution of federal refugee assistance funds to local resettlement agencies, including Catholic Charities of Tennessee. Local partnerships extend to Metro Nashville Public Schools, which provides enrollment and language support services to newly arrived school-age children, and the Nashville Health Department, which coordinates initial health screenings required for all arriving refugees under federal guidelines. Faith-based congregations across Nashville's Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim communities have also served as co-sponsors, providing volunteers, donated goods, and social connections that accelerate client integration beyond what case managers alone can offer.

Culture

The Refugee Services program is deeply tied to Nashville's cultural identity, as it helps the integration of individuals from diverse backgrounds into the city's social and economic systems. Refugees from countries such as Somalia, Iraq, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan bring with them rich traditions, languages, and customs that have contributed substantially to Nashville's multicultural character. Catholic Charities of Tennessee has worked to preserve and celebrate these contributions by organizing events such as international food festivals, language exchange programs, and interfaith dialogues. These initiatives help refugees maintain a connection to their heritage while building greater understanding and appreciation among Nashville's broader population.

Cultural integration is central to the program's work. Services address both practical and emotional needs. The organization offers cultural orientation sessions covering American legal systems, healthcare access, and community resources. Sessions are conducted in multiple languages, with interpreters available to ensure clarity and inclusivity. The program also collaborates with local schools and businesses to create mentorship opportunities that connect refugees with Nashville residents, building bridges between newly arrived communities and the city's existing population. According to a 2023 report by the Nashville Scene, these efforts have been instrumental in reducing social isolation among refugee families and promoting mutual respect.

It's not purely a service provider. Catholic Charities of Tennessee has engaged publicly on issues affecting immigrant communities, including Tennessee legislative efforts that advocates argue would harm refugees and undocumented immigrants. That stance reflects the broader principles of hospitality and social justice embedded in the Catholic Charities mission nationally.

Demographics

The demographics of individuals served by Catholic Charities of Tennessee's Refugee Services program reflect the complex and evolving nature of global displacement. As of 2024, the program's clients come from over 20 countries, with the largest groups originating from Somalia, Burma, and Syria. Families with children, elderly individuals, and single adults all seek support, and each requires tailored assistance to handle life in the United States. The average age of refugees resettled in Nashville through the program is 28, with a significant proportion of individuals under the age of 18. This demographic profile shows the importance of educational and youth-focused programs, such as after-school tutoring and vocational training, which are central to the organization's mission.

Nashville's population has been transformed over the past two decades. The program's impact on the city's demographics is evident in its growing multicultural character. According to data from the Tennessee Office for Refugees, the number of refugee households in Nashville increased substantially between 2015 and the early 2020s, with many of these families settling in neighborhoods along the Nolensville Road corridor and in areas of Midtown with access to public transit. This growth has contributed to the diversification of the city's population, with refugee communities now representing a meaningful share of Nashville's overall immigrant population. Refugee families also participate actively in the local economy, many starting small businesses or entering skilled and semi-skilled trades, contributing to the city's economic vitality.

Neighborhoods

Catholic Charities of Tennessee's Refugee Services program operates across several neighborhoods in Nashville, focusing on areas that offer access to essential services and community support. Midtown has emerged as a major hub for refugee resettlement. Its proximity to public transportation, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions makes it well-suited for this work. The organization has established a permanent office in Midtown that serves as the central point for intake, case management, and referrals. This location allows the program to coordinate with local partners such as Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Nashville Health Department to ensure that refugees receive support from the moment they arrive in the city.

Downtown Nashville and Green Hills have both become important sites for refugee integration as well. In Downtown, the program collaborates with nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups to provide temporary housing and job placement assistance. Green Hills, by contrast, has been a focus for longer-term housing solutions and community-building work. These neighborhood-specific strategies reflect the program's understanding that different areas present different resources and constraints, and they show its commitment to tailoring services accordingly. According to a 2022 article in The Tennessean, the program's neighborhood-based approach has been critical in helping refugees establish stable lives and become active members of Nashville's communities. The program's geographic reach also extends beyond Nashville proper into surrounding Middle Tennessee counties, broadening access for clients who may be placed outside the urban core.

External Links

• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville — Official Website
• U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement
• USCCB Migration and Refugee Services
• Tennessee Office for Refugees