(The Center Square) – More 70 refugee families facing homelessness were able to secure a one-week extension at their stay in a hotel in Kent thanks to Seattle footing the bill.
Cathy Moore of the Seattle City Council worked in collaboration with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to fund the week-long extension.
The asylum seekers were staying at the Quality Inn located in Kent from Jan. 10 through Jan. 30. Facing eviction from the hotel, the refugees called on the Seattle City Council to utilize immediate emergency funds for temporary housing costs, as well as allocate funds for permanent shelter, attorney fees, and help obtaining work permits.
The Center Square reached out to Harrell’s office to learn about the costs to temporarily house the refugees.
Jamie Housen, the mayor’s director of communications, said that the Seattle City Council allocated $200,000 from the general budget to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs “in anticipation of issues facing migrants and refugees” last year.