Island group still working to settle refugees on Vashon

Refugees have been much in the news since President Donald Trump’s recent executive order and the legal action that followed it, while on Vashon, those hoping to resettle refugees have been quietly pursuing their plans.

Last week, Mary Rose, one of the founding members of the Vashon Resettlement Committee, said not many refugees are currently coming to this area, and it is likely that Vashon will be a home for refugee families that have been in this country for a time and would like to live in a rural environment.

The group members’ current goal, she said, is to provide homes for two families and a single man they know, who is an accountant, but needs to improve his English.

“They would be the anchor for refugee families on Vashon,” she said.

She added that last month, a Syrian family currently living in Tukwila came to the island for a visit; they have five children and need housing accordingly.

“I think if we could get a house, they would come,” Rose said.

She added she looks at housing every day on Craigslist at listings in the $1,600 per month range.

Some members of families that may move to the island could work to assist with living expenses, with the goal that they would be self-sufficient in six months, she said.

To date, the committee has raised $12,000 and is looking to raise $20,000. Rose added it is a “bit of a juggle” to line up money, a family and housing that would meet their needs.

Still, she remains optimistic.

“I hope it will not be too long before we have several families here,” she said.

Part of the committee’s goal is to provide education, and members are planning an event for April 2, with Muslim women speaking about women in Islam, family relationships and raising children in a non-Muslim culture.

Additionally, Rose said that the committee continues to build a list of potential volunteers who could help in a variety of ways, from assisting with transportation, conversation and job training.

“Let us know how you would like to provide support,” she said. “We would put that in our bank and call when the time comes.”

For more information, see vashonresettlement.org.