TUKWILA, Wash. — Kaysi Ibarra, one of the refugees living at a Kent Quality Inn, said the last month has been tough.
Ibarra and the estimated 150 refugees came from Riverton Park United Methodist Church on Jan. 10. Conditions at the church had deteriorated.
The refugees were promised housing by a group called "Save the Kids." Despite our best efforts, KING 5 has not been able to reach anyone affiliated with the group. Refugees, along with volunteers helping them out, said the group disappeared after everyone was moved into the hotel.
Facing financial ruin, the owners of the Quality Inn set a Jan. 30 deadline for the refugees to leave. Eli Min, who owns the hotel with his parents, told KING 5 they never received any sort of payment from "Save the Kids." Min said he felt bad for imposing the eviction, but they had done all they could.
On Jan. 30, a group of refugees went before the Seattle City Council asking for help. Through emergency efforts, money was found to extend their stay at the Quality Inn.
The owners of the Quality Inn told KING 5 they refused the City of Seattle's offer for three more weeks of payment. They did not want to risk being in the same predicament three weeks from now.
Through an interpreter, Ibarra told KING 5 she knows the Min Family did all they could for them. She feels bad the situation has become so dire. Now, she hopes they're one step closer to a permanent solution to help them live and work in this country.
The city announced it will pay for three weeks at a hotel in Seatac. The funds are coming from this year's budget for migrant issues, a city spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrel's office sent KING 5 a statement that read, in part:
"We are closely following the Washington state legislative session, where Governor Inslee has proposed spending $8 million toward this issue. Given this is a regional, state, and national issue, we are looking to our King County, Washington state, and federal partners to develop and support sustainable longer-term solutions given that City resources for this response will quickly be exhausted.
The City of Seattle is committed to helping migrant families and individuals connect with regional, state, and federal resources and supports to assist them in navigating the asylum process and finding housing resources, and our Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is partnering with community groups serving migrants as part of that effort."
On Feb. 7, at 1:30 p.m., refugees and advocates are hosting The Refugee March in Olympia to encourage lawmakers to address this pressing issue.