Helping Immigrant Families
IRIS primarily serves immigrant women and children who are survivors of violence. IRIS responds to the urgent and unmet needs of immigrants in our communities in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties in an inclusive and comprehensive manner. IRIS connects immigrants with needed resources in our communities by acting as liaisons for our recipients. IRIS also directly provides funding for items and services that are not accessible to this marginalized population.
The survivors served by IRIS are fleeing violence and poverty. Despite their immense resilience and hardworking character, they are in need of temporary bridge assistance to help them achieve stability and self sustainability.
IRIS sponsors one or two families at a time by providing them with basic needs and, where appropriate, connecting them with additional services.
Case Examples
- IRIS provided food, clothing and bedding to a family who was recently homeless in Whatcom county. They fled their country to escape immanent danger.
- IRIS provided immediate housing, groceries, clothing, and resources for healthcare to a mother and her six year old son who were separated at the border and held in different parts of the country for almost two months.
- IRIS provided space heaters, blankets and jackets to a single mother and her children living in an unheated dwelling. IRIS then connected the family with housing resources, and provided short-term financial assistance to facilitate their transition into a heated dwelling.
- IRIS provided clothing, blankets, and kitchen items to a single mother and her three young children as they transitioned from living in a church, into a small shared apartment.
- IRIS facilitated a medical evaluation for a woman, and also raised money to pay for an ultrasound to address her medical issues resulting from years of rape and abuse.
- IRIS purchased soccer shoes and warm clothing for a young student who is unaccompanied in this country and who is fleeing physical violence.
- IRIS provided a used laptop computer to the child of an IRIS family who required computer access for her schooling.
- During our jacket drive, IRIS collected and distributed warm jackets to IRIS recipients, most of whom work outdoors in the cold climate. IRIS also ran an annual gift drive for the children of IRIS families to provide them with gifts during the holidays.