Local and state agencies are being accused of planning to expose a significant number of asylum-seekers to extremely cold temperatures.
Volunteers and the pastor at Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila are working urgently to relocate hundreds of migrants who have been residing in makeshift conditions on the church’s premises, facing homelessness.
According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, Friday’s anticipated high temperature is 23 degrees, with overnight lows expected to drop into the single digits. These frigid temperatures are predicted to persist until Tuesday, as indicated by Kirby Cook, the science and operations officer for the Seattle National Weather Service.
As of Thursday, an estimated 200 asylum-seekers, including women and children, have been residing in tents and makeshift shelters outside the Riverton Park United Methodist Church, according to Pastor Jan Bolerjack.
Simultaneously, approximately 100 individuals have found shelter indoors on the church premises, with many gathering in offices and the social hall.
Over the past year, migrants and asylum-seekers, predominantly from Venezuela and Angola, have been seeking assistance from Pastor Bolerjack at the United Methodist Church. In December, the population on the property was estimated to be as high as 500 people.
For months, the church and its residents have received assistance from homeless service organizations, mutual aid groups, and nonprofits. The means by which most residents discovered the church remain uncertain, with some indicating word-of-mouth and others learning about it through organizations active on the border.
On Wednesday, with the aid of a local nonprofit, a portion of the residents was relocated indoors. However, a considerable number still require assistance.
Remarkably, local government leaders have shown reluctance to acknowledge responsibility and provide help.
With some of the lowest temperatures anticipated in the Seattle area, the finger-pointing persists.
According to Cook from the weather service, “they’re very dangerous temperatures” for those residing outdoors.
Asylum-seekers, as noted by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, could utilize the severe weather shelters opening across the county for homeless individuals, according to Bolerjack. However, in addition to arranging transportation for asylum-seekers, the availability of spots is limited, as highlighted by Bolerjack.
According to King County Regional Homelessness Authority spokesperson Anne Martens, there are only 144 additional severe-weather overnight beds across South King County for both asylum-seekers and the 2,000 individuals estimated to be residing outdoors in South King County in July.
It’s worth noting that many of these severe-weather shelters cater exclusively to adults, disqualifying numerous families living at the church. Martens emphasized that King County has taken the lead in “meeting the needs of asylum-seekers.”
In December, a commitment of $3 million was made by King County to fund 100 hotel rooms, allowing some of the church’s most vulnerable residents to temporarily relocate indoors. As of Thursday, 250 individuals were residing in the county-funded hotel, as stated by Katie Rogers, spokesperson for the county’s Department of Community and Human Services.
Rogers couldn’t provide the occupancy status of the rooms, but she mentioned ongoing efforts to fill the remaining ones. It’s important to note that the $3 million is designated for purposes other than cold-weather shelter, as per a county spokesperson, with responsibility for such work falling under the purview of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
Regarding the upcoming severe weather, Tukwila Mayor Tom McLeod stated in a news release on Wednesday, “It’s critical during these type of weather events that we work together to protect everyone in our community, including our most vulnerable.”
