$32.7M slated for asylum-seekers flowing into Washington state
As legislators in Olympia move closer to finalizing the state’s next budget, they’ve designated $32.7 million for services to help an influx of asylum-seekers in Washington.
That state money will be used for housing, food programs, education and employment support, and services for children, among other things. Of that money, $7.5 million will be funneled through the Department of Commerce. The Department of Social and Health Services, which houses the state’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, will receive $25.2 million.
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Those funds won’t be available until July, when the state’s 2024 fiscal year begins.
Sarah Peterson, a coordinator with the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, said she’ll be holding meetings with community stakeholders and contracted organizations about how to best proceed with the funding once it becomes available.
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“A critical piece of the work that we'll be doing is building services like pathways to immigration related legal services, or support for housing stabilization,” Peterson said. “But it's done in a way that all people can access, and that is done in collaboration with the community.”
Local governments like King County have also set aside some money to help these migrants. But local officials say they’re counting on more permanent solutions from the federal and state governments.
“One of the things that we often share with our counterparts in the federal government is that welcoming newcomers happens at the local level,” Peterson said.
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For months, religious, mutual aid, and groups run by asylum-seekers have built a patchwork of support to secure temporary shelter. They’ve called on local governments, including Seattle, King County, and Tukwila, for help.
Many of the asylum-seekers arriving in the Seattle area have gone through the U.S. immigration system and are waiting to receive work authorization. Those applicants can’t work until they get permits or they risk jeopardizing their immigration cases.
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Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez
Race & Identity Reporter
Gustavo covers the intersection of race and identity for KUOW, writing stories that center voices often not catered to in typical news. He's most interested in covering how communities effect the levers of power they hold, to effect change.
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