The Literacy Source (LS)- A Community Learning Center - provides learner-centered instruction to adults in English literacy and basic life skills. Services are free. LS has expanded its focus to include English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring and conversation classes, computer literacy, workplace basic skills, Citizenship and civics classes, immigrant and refugee beginning ESL and the Newcomer Network, and an individualized adult high school diploma program.

720 North 35th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

206-782-2050

www.literarysource.org

English Learning Tools on the Web. Go to the listed Web site. Also, many King County Library System branches are holding English conversation classes for non-native speakers. Run by trained volunteers, these groups provide a relaxed, fun place for adults to practice and improve their speaking skills. Call for times and places.

425-369-3452

www.kcls.org/lit/esl.cfm

The Kent Multi-Services Center provides basic needs services for residents of South King County. It operates a shelter, transitional housing, and low-cost housing programs. It also offers employment, energy assistance and literacy services. The Kent Multi-Service Center is member of the Washington State Community Action Partnership, providing transitional services to families in need.

515 W Harrison St
Kent, WA 98032

253-854-4406
253-850-1338
Rent Assistance Applications: 253- 893-0024
Shelter: 253- 854-3437
Transitional Housing: 253- 838-6810

The Refugee Assistance Program (RAP) is a special ministry of the Archdiocesan Housing Authority (AHA), an agency of Catholic Community Services (CCS) of Western Washington. The mission of the Refugee Assistance Program is "To assist refugees, immigrants and their families in attaining self-sufficiency through advocacy, education and employment. This is achieved through resettlement services, employment assistance, English language instruction referral, citizenship preparation, and youth and family support." The Refugee Assistance Program is located at St. Edward Parish in Seattle’s Rainier Valley.

Lutheran Community Services (LCS) offers multiple programs to provide assistance to refugees through its Multicultural Community Services Seattle Office. These programs include a Reception & Placement Program to welcome refugees at the airport, arrange accommodations, provide food and furniture, and orient the refugees to daily life in their new home. Case managers—able to speak the refugee’s language—help newly-arrived refugees process paperwork and secure governmental assistance, enter employment programs, attend ESL classes, and generally find solutions to any problems that arise in the resettlement process; an Immigration Counseling and Advocacy Program (ICAP) to provide low-cost immigration counseling to Seattle’s refugee and immigrant populations. ICAP counsels refugees and immigrants about their rights and responsibilities pertaining to their immigration status, helps clients with all immigration forms and applications, and represents clients before the INS. ICAP staff also provides translation and interpretation services; public notary services; attorney referrals; immigration and passport photos; and fingerprinting services. In addition, ICAP engages in advocacy for the preservation of immigrants’ rights in the legal system at all levels of government; the Social Services Project provides social services to refugees who have resettled in the Puget Sound region. These services include free immigration assistance (especially green card applications after one year of residence), assistance in applying and qualifying for low income housing programs and advocacy for refugees with health clinics, public schools and other public and private agencies. The project also provide mental health counseling for families who may have difficulty adjusting to life in the US, and assist families in locating resources for childcare; the Holiday Gift Program, on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, LCS coordinates a gift giving program, in which the neediest refugee families can receive gifts of furniture, household items, clothing and food. Families let LCS know what their greatest needs are, and they find individuals, organizations, churches or businesses that are willing to provide these items in new or good condition.

The IRC provides assistance to immigrants and refugees, including a Friend of the Family program that provides support to refugee families by ensuring their basic survival skills, assists them with practical needs and referral to appropriate resources and offers friendly encouragement as refugees become familiar with American and local customs:

• ESL Tutors, who help refugee clients to acquire basic English skills needed for employment and life situations;
• a Job Search Mentor, who helps a refugee find a job, researches job opportunities and helps newly arrived refugees secure employment;

Horn of Africa Services (HOAS) is a multi-lingual, multicultural nonprofit organization offering individual and family counseling and referral services. They respond to health, employment, housing and educational needs within communities from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and neighboring countries who are living in the Greater Seattle area. HOAS provides services by bilingual staff speaking in Amharic, Oromo, Tigrigna, and Somali.

Horn of Africa Services conducts 'Job Readiness' workshops, monthly legal clinics, and an annual gift giving program for needy families. In addition, Horn of Africa Services has successfully produced seven citizenship videos in four major East African languages to disseminate information and help prospective individuals prepare for U.S. naturalization testing. The organization has programs including information and referral, advocacy and counseling, citizenship classes, ESL, Outreach, a legal immigration clinic, job training and placement, youth services and an East African Self-reliance Project.

Jewish Family Service (JFS) is a private, non-profit, social service organization serving members of the Jewish and broader communities in the greater Puget Sound Region. JFS offers Refugee Services to those fleeing from countries ravaged by war and religious, political or economic persecution. Services include resettlement services, ESL & citizenship classes, employment counseling & job placement, home care, and a food bank.

1601 16th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122

206-461-3240 x502

Home care:
206-461-3240

Food bank:
206-461-3240

http://www.jfsseattle.org

Housing Assistance

Hopelink works on many levels to help families find or stay in safe, affordable housing. The Hopelink Housing Programs include: Eviction Prevention, First Month's Rent, Emergency Family Shelter, and Transitional Housing.

Food Assistance