KING COUNTY, Wash. — King County is donating $2 million in grant funding to local nonprofits assisting asylum seekers and refugees in Tukwila, according to a Wednesday announcement.
The nonprofits focus on providing temporary housing, food and support for dozens of people seeking asylum in south King County.
In early April, an anonymous donor paid for a 10-day motel stay for 140 people, many of whom are from Venezuela.
"We appreciate that the state will begin to implement its long-term solutions this summer to support these asylees and refugees in Tukwila and across Washington. With this $2 million in local funding King County continues to step up to provide urgent assistance in the near term," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "Working with these community-based organizations will help bring some stability to those in need right now.”
The $2 million from King County comes from a $5 million funding allocation for cities in south King County to use for local homelessness response efforts. The receipts of the remaining $3 million will be announced this week, the county said.
The four nonprofits receiving funding are:
- Coalicion – Dignidad Migrante (in partnership with Cooperativa Sanarte, fiscal sponsor), receiving $250,000 to support case management and wrap-around support services.
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, receiving $250,000 to expand its work of providing asylum-seeking individuals and families with legal services to navigate work authorizations, notices of appeal, temporary protected status, asylum applications, and motions to change venue/change address.
- Lutheran Community Services Northwest, receiving $750,000 to provide housing and case management services to asylum-seeking families and individuals.
- Refugee Women’s Alliance, receiving $750,000 to provide housing and case management services to asylum-seeking families and individuals, in partnership with Low Income Housing Institute.
In November, the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) worked with Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila to relocate 24 people seeking asylum from an encampment into an area hotel.
The following month, the King County Council and Gov. Jay Inslee approved $3 million in support funding. The county contracted with Thrive International and moved approximately 350 people into 100 hotel rooms through July, according tot he news release.
Additional funding of $5 million from the operating budge, approved by Inslee, will be made available this summer to further support refugees and asylum seekers in the region, according to the county. This is alongside another $25 million, allocated by the state to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (DSHS ORIA) to provide support services, housing, food, transportation, legal services and more.
King County is in the contracting process with the nonprofits and funding will cover costs incurred through Dec. 31, 2025.