Two Families Obtain Long-Term Housing with IRIS Support
IRIS helps families achieve stability. Our team is celebrating the recent stabilization of two of our recipient families who are now in long-term housing. One family, previously homeless, (https://irisnw.org/immediate-needs/) is continuing to acclimate to their community while IRIS provides subsidies for food and other basic items. Our initial six-month subsidy for this family is set to expire in August 2019, yet support is needed for another 6 months. Both parents are working as many hours as possible at a car wash, but they are still unable to make ends meet. Please consider a donation to help IRIS raise $1800 to subsidize another 6 months ($300/month) after which time the family should be able to afford the rent payments on their own. IRIS also recently paid a rental deposit and furnished an apartment for a family of five, the youngest member being only 2 months old. Furniture was donated by generous IRIS supporters and this family, previously on the verge of homelessness and sleeping on a hard floor, is now warm and happy.
IRIS is currently also working with a mother and her three children. They have been sleeping in a small room in an overcrowded home. IRIS recently provided blankets, an air mattress and food to them. This mother is seeking asylum and is in desperate need of temporary bridge assistance to get her through the next 9 months. The current priority for IRIS is to raise money to pay for a rental deposit in order to get her and her children into stable housing. Please donate to this hardworking single mother and her children. Money is also needed for food for this family.
Fall Coat Drive
Immigrants arrive at our Southern border with little but the clothes on their backs. Those who relocate to cooler climates like ours in Washington State are not prepared to deal with the elements. Moreover, many of these newer community members end up working outside.
IRIS runs an annual coat drive each fall. Please consider saving gently used warm coats to donate to our 2019 coat drive. IRIS accepts infant to adult sizes and distributes the coats directly to families. Many winter coats are on sale this summer, so it is also a great time to purchase new coats to donate to this project. Email info@irisnw.org with questions.
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Emma Lazarus, November 2, 1883
Current Events
IRIS is saddened by the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers arriving at our Southern border. IRIS works regularly with asylum seekers and is moved by their resilience and character. We see the remarkable contributions that asylum seekers make to our communities, and our team is motivated by both admiration and compassion for the obstacles that our recipients overcome. Over the July 4th holiday IRIS reflected on the American values and principals that make this country a beautiful, welcoming and humane nation. We are moved by the ongoing support of IRIS supporters who embody these core values and demonstrate through their generosity true compassion.
A donation to IRIS will directly support the needs of asylum seekers in our local communities of Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties. Please consider a monthly donation, at any amount. Since IRIS is entirely run by unpaid volunteers your donation goes a long way. Thank you for supporting our work and for standing with immigrants in this difficult time.