Hundreds of asylum-seekers move into park in Seattle's Central District

After spending months bouncing from shelter to shelter, asylum-seekers in western Washington have now begun settling into a camp near Seattle’s Garfield High School.

It’s their latest move after money for housing ran out yet again.

With varying degrees of success, the migrants from African and Latin-America countries are navigating a complicated legal system, and they've been finding piecemeal ways of staying housed in the Puget Sound region for weeks. Many have received help through religious organizations as well as local and the state government. Everyday businesses and residents also have pitched in to keep them housed.

But the asylum-seekers are still struggling to get funding and housing. That’s created a cycle that has now led them to make camp in Seattle.

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Washington state has allocated $32 million to help address the housing issue. But that money won’t kick in until July, when the new fiscal year begins. Most of that money will be used at the Washington Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance to provide housing and legal services. State officials also have asked the public to help find more permanent solutions for the asylum-seekers.

“There are insufficient resources to ensure that all newcomers have access to emergency and long-term housing options to prevent homelessness,” said Norah West with the state Department of Social and Health Services. “We continue to look for additional resources and supports in collaboration with local jurisdictions, including potential federal funding.”

Unlike the federal refugee resettlement program, there is no formal infrastructure for asylum-seekers once they are processed at the border by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

A new camp in Seattle

Three community-led, organized groups have set up camp: Aliança Acolhimento Solidaridad, Movimento Congolese Angolano, and Comunidad Sin Fronteras.

They first began camping at Powell Barnett wading pool earlier this week, where 300 to 400 people were staying on Monday night. Organizers expected those numbers to grow, but the arrival of so many new people makes it hard to plan.

Adriana Figuera is one of the organizers for Comunidad Sin Fronteras. She knew the headcount before the end of the night on Monday wouldn't be the same Tuesday morning.

Organizers said that despite what at least one Seattle City councilmember has stated — that this a problem beyond the scope of the City of Seattle, which already has its own housing needs — many residents have made it their business to help the asylum-seekers.

“They’ve been donating. They’ve opened their doors for people to live with them,” Rosario Lopez said in Spanish.

Lopez and others from the mutual aid group Super Familia King County have been liaisons, translators for leaders of the immigrant communities, with local governments.

“That shows that it matters to them, and we hope that it also matters for politicians," Lopez said.

The mutual aid group has also put out the call for blankets, trash bags, tents, tarps, sleeping bags, diapers, and toys.

Many of the Africans have been staying in short-term rentals in the Seattle area and haven’t received as much individual support as the people from Latin-American countries, Lopez said. But they're running out of money for housing, too. They'll be joining the people from Latin-American countries at the park.

Figueira with Comunidad Sin Fronteras said everyone is asking for long-term housing solutions, as well as support to keep up with their immigration and work authorization applications. Some people have been able to get work authorization and get placed into an apartment, but not fast enough for everyone to avoid having to camp. Each group also deal with language barriers to varying degrees.

King County recently approved $2 million in funding for temporary housing and resources for asylum seekers and refugees. That money will go to four nonprofits, two for housing and two for legal support. Still, organizers don’t expect that will change anything soon.

In a statement, the City of Seattle said it doesn't have any more money for migrant shelters and services, and they're looking to the state for solutions.

Correction 5/3/2024: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the asylum-seekers as refugees.