BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Refugee Partnership is a coalition of five Western New York nonprofit organizations that provide resettlement and other ancillary services to refugees who come to the region.

Jewish Family Services CEO Molly Carr said the agencies were anticipating policy changes and less federal funding with the incoming Trump administration.

"We were prepared. However, we were blindsided by funding cuts to support refugees who the U.S. government brought here in the last 90 days and promised to provide critical services," Carr said.

The organizations are no longer receiving funding for 731 refugees in the region the federal government typically provides for 90 days for things like case management, housing, food and job placement as part of its agreement for refugees to legally settle in the United States. International Institute Executive Director Jennifer Rizzo-Choi said that's left the nonprofits scrambling.

"On Friday, Jan. 24, we all received various communications that said 'stop work.' No one in this room is stopping work. We are all trying to figure out a way to continue working on behalf of our clients and our community," she said.

The Refugee Partnership launched a 30-day fundraising campaign Friday. Journey's End CEO Pamela Kefi said it hopes to raise $1.5 million, bolstered by $450,000 five local foundations that contributed to kick things off.

"This isn't just about doing what's right, it's an investment in our shared future. Refugee resettlement strengthens our local economy, enriches our communities and upholds the very values that define us as a nation," Kefi said.

The organizations are also making cuts. Jewish Family Services released 15 positions, while Journey's End says it laid off 21 people, 17% of its workforce, and its highest ranking executives took 20% pay cuts.

Kefi said a backlog in payments from the state is exacerbating the financial strain.

"At the time of our layoffs, we were owed $3 million by New York state and had we had those reimbursements we probably wouldn't have had to do what we did at that moment in that way," she said.

Carr said other communities across the country are affected as well and lawsuits are a possibility. However, she said the agencies don't have the reserves to wait.

"We have to pay rent now. We have to feed people now. We cannot wait for litigation or for debate about these funds being released. We have to do the services now," she said.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is also currently suspended while the administration says its reviewing it for homeland security reasons. No new refugees are coming to the region for now.