Havenly Cafe, a Temple Street eatery that has spent the past six years training refugee and immigrant women to become chefs, will close on Friday. The cafe’s co-executive directors, Caterina Passoni and Denisse Cruz-Contreras, made the announcement in an email on Thursday, citing financial difficulties as the reason for the closure.

Continued Support for Refugees

Although the cafe is closing, Havenly’s job-training program for refugees will continue. The program’s current participants will still receive support and services, and the organization is working on new initiatives, including a childcare hub at 495 Blake St. in Westville.

The cafe’s closure is due to a combination of factors, including financial and logistical challenges. Passoni stated that the block where the cafe is located has been difficult for businesses, and the organization has faced safety concerns and lost federal funding since the new administration took office.

Despite the closure, Havenly is grateful for the support it has received from the community and is committed to continuing its mission to empower refugee and immigrant women.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.