Washington state launches Migrant and Asylum-Seeker Support Project

OLYMPIA - In its 2024 session, the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 2368 to expand the legal authority of the Department of Social and Health Services' Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance to support the basic needs of asylum-seekers. ORIA received $25 million in funding to provide support services for people who have recently arrived in the United States and Washington who are ineligible for federal refugee services. With that funding, ORIA established a pilot project, called the Washington Migrant and Asylum-Seekers Support project, which is designed to provide short-term, basic-needs services until June 30, 2025. WA MASS soft-launched Oct. 1, 2024, and has started serving participants in King and Pierce counties. Full, statewide eligibility screening for participant households across all regions began Nov. 1, 2024, including connection to virtual services. Read the full release.