Seattle's Garfield Community Center recently became an impromptu refuge for Venezuelan asylum seekers, who set up an encampment on the shared property with Garfield High School. In a quick turn of events, a mysterious guardian angel stepped in, offering financial assistance that enabled the migrants to return to temporary housing. The encampment, which sprawled out over the local tennis courts, was packed up when an anonymous donor shelled out for 61 hotel rooms at the Quality Inn in Kent, according to KOMO News.
The situation came to light when the camp, comprised of migrants from Venezuela, Congo, and Angola, materialized this week, creating a temporary neighborhood on the courts known for community engagement. Following their eviction from a Kent hotel on Tuesday due to funding issues, the group was left to seek shelter on city property. District 3 City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth swiftly acknowledged the problem, stating "We are working with the Mayor's office, King County and service providers to address this situation immediately," as recorded by Capitol Hill Seattle.
The substantial donation, channeled through a nonprofit, allowed the migrant group to move from the outdoor camp back to the hotel. "They are going to house as many people as possible," King County Councilmember Sara Perry said in an interview with KUOW. The gesture comes in the wake of the migrants' failed appeal to the King County Council for additional assistance, a disappointing setback that led to their temporary encampment.
Despite this act of generosity, the crisis continues. Just this past December, Border Patrol agents encountered almost 250,000 migrants attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S., a record for a single month. Even with the latest development of the donor's contribution, the long-term prospects for these migrants remain uncertain. Adrianna Figuera, a Venezuelan refugee, told KOMO News, their ultimate goal is to secure a meeting with the mayor of Kent to discuss more permanent housing solutions, after their temporary hotel stay concludes.
