LCSNW ready to assist South King County asylum-seekers

Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) is excited to partner with King County and join other area nonprofits to relieve the suffering of our new neighbors seeking asylum in the Puget Sound region.

Over the next 18 months, LCSNW will implement a two-pronged plan to provide housing support and case management services to asylum-seekers, with a focus on serving families with young children and pregnant mothers. The goal is to provide wrap-around services for 80-90 families, and to help up to 25 households secure safe housing for at least 9 months while they obtain legal assistance, work authorization and self-sufficiency.

“This is a natural extension of the work that LCSNW has been doing for decades to walk alongside refugees and immigrants in Washington and Oregon,” said David Duea, LCSNW’s Chief Executive Officer. “We can’t turn our backs on vulnerable families who have fled to South King County in the past year to escape violence and other trauma back home. They will thrive and contribute to their new communities, if given half a chance.”

LCSNW is one of four nonprofits awarded funds by King County this week to assist in rapidly serving unsheltered asylum-seekers and refugees currently residing in or near Tukwila. LCSNW will receive $750,000 of the total $2 million in emergency grant funding.

Using private funds, LCSNW previously served some of the hundreds of asylum-seekers who encamped on the property of a Methodist Church in Tukwila. Among the services provided by the agency were basic needs assessment; hygiene, food and other items; medical benefits enrollment; behavioral health care; legal services; and cultural orientation.

“While we know the path forward will not be easy for refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities, our team is prepared to offer comprehensive assistance, including housing navigation, in-kind support, and personalized case management,” said Najib Nazhat, Greater Puget Sound District Director for LCSNW. “Together, we empower individuals on their journey toward self-sufficiency, honoring their resilience and courage that got them here.”