TUKWILA, Wash. — On Wednesday, the City of Tukwila shared an update on the progress being made to help hundreds of asylum seekers living at Riverton Park United Methodist. Mayor Alan Eckberg declared a State of Emergency over the situation a month ago.
"The mayor was back in DC this past week meeting with staff from the White House, Senator Cantwell to bring high level attention to this," Nora Gierloff, Community Development Director for the city, said. "We've also been meeting regularly with King County, the state, non-profits and other community partners."
Gierloff said she knows time is of the essence. Since last month, about 100 more people have shown up at the church seeking food and shelter. The tents now reach the edge of the church's property. They've put up a fence to give the asylum seekers more privacy and safety.
"It's tragic that people would have to leave their homelands and come to such an uncertain place and future for them," she said.
However, there's no for sure timeline on when the 350 asylum seekers will be helped.
"We think there's movement. People have been rolling up their sleeves and coming to the table. We hope to have more information soon," she said.
Riverton Park United Methodist Church
Many of the people living at Pastor Jan Bolerjack's church are from Angola or Venezuela. Despite the dire circumstances, those living there, especially the children, have adapted to a much different culture and area.
"Isn't it amazing? These kids are so resilient. They have come through so much trauma," Pastor Bolerjack said. "They have walked or been carried on the backs of their parents across 11 countries over three to five months, yet they get here and play with one another and find ways to be happy."
On Wednesday afternoon, dozens of kids ranging in ages played on the church's front lawn. Their innocent banter against a stark backdrop of desperation.
Bolerjack says her church is living out their Christian values by offering food and shelter to those in need. However, it comes at a cost. Their utility bills have skyrocketed by thousands of dollars.
At any given moment, a majority of the outlets available for use are charging phones. Those phones, for many, are the only way to communicate with staff and volunteers via translation services.
As noted in prior stories, asylum seekers must wait months before they can work. According to Title 8 of the United States Code, which governs immigration law, asylum seekers may receive authorization to work as soon as 180 days following the filing of an asylum application. That means many of those living at the church won't be able to work until the Spring or Summer.
Bolerjack said if they can't work, they can't provide for themselves which means someone has to step up and help them. She and her church continue to receive donations from the community, but it's not enough. She's hoping the government comes through with aid sooner rather than later.
"I want folks to know that there's a crisis here, that this is another section of unhoused people in our county that we need to take care of," Bolerjack said.