KITSAP IMMIGRANT ASSISTANCE CENTER
PO BOX 1276, BREMERTON, WA 98337

---

Organizations Filed Purposes: RECOGNIZING THE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE, KIAC WORKS FOR THE WELL-BEING AND EMPOWERMENT OF IMMIGRANTS THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM: IN 2019, THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM WORKED AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A DRAMATIC RISE IN THE ADMINISTRATIONS EFFORTS TO INCREASE DEPORTATION, RESTRICT IMMIGRATION AND RAISE THE DIFFICULTY FOR ACHIEVING STATUS. THE FOCUS FOR THE YEAR WAS TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES IN KITSAP, CLALLAM, JEFFERSON AND NORTH MASON COUNTIES. A TOTAL OF 204 NEW CLIENTS WERE SERVED WHILE THE VOLUNTEER STAFF CONTINUED TO HANDLE THE CASELOAD FROM PRIOR YEARS. THE ALL-VOLUNTEER LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES (ELEVEN ACCREDITED WITH FIVE MORE IN TRAINING) PROVIDED THESE SERVICES DESPITE THE EVER-CHANGING, RESTRICTIVE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION POLICY. ROBUST COLLABORATIONS WITH THE NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT, ONE AMERICA, JEFFERSON COUNTY IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND THE CATHOLIC LEGAL IMMIGRATION NETWORK CONTINUED. AT THE END OF THE YEAR THERE WERE 295 OPEN CASES. NINETY-THREE PERCENT OF COURT HEARINGS WERE SUCCESSFUL. TWENTY-ONE CLIENTS B ECAME CITIZENS, 51 CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS WERE FILED, AND THERE ARE 92 CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS PENDING. THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTED 146 IMMIGRANTS WHO WERE SEEKING TO MEET THEIR CIVIC AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO FILE FEDERAL AND STATE TAX RETURNS. THREE VOLUNTEERS HELPED CLIENTS FILE ITIN APPLICATIONS AND FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS. CLIENTS WERE ALSO ASSISTED IN APPLYING FOR WASHINGTON STATE BUSINESS LICENSES, FILING THEIR STATE EXCISE TAX RETURNS, AND COACHED IN RECORD-KEEPING FOR THEIR BUSINESSES.VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR THE YEAR EXCEEDED 12,000.

FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM: FAMILY SERVICES SEEKS TO DRAW ON THE RESILIENCY LEARNED FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES: MUTUAL SUPPORT MAKES US STRONGER. 2019 WAS A YEAR OF NEW AND CLOSER PARTNERSHIPS WITH IMMIGRANT LEADERS, AGENCIES, FAITH COMMUNITIES, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND EDUCATORS. IT WAS A YEAR OF GATHERINGS A SUMMER POTLUCK, A HOLIDAY POSADA, AND A GROWING MOMS GROUP.VOLUNTEER HOURS AT THE FAMILY SERVICE CENTER INCREASED FROM 144 HOURS PER MONTH TO 248 HOURS PER MONTH. NEW VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED MULTIPLE TRILINGUAL TEENAGERS. MORE VOLUNTEERS ALLOWED THE CENTER TO SERVE OVER 400 INDIVIDUALS FROM 300 FAMILIES, TO CONTINUE THE MONTHLY MEDICAL CLINICS (INCLUDING PHYSICAL THERAPY) AND QUARTERLY DENTAL CLINICS, AND TO BE OPEN FOR DROP-IN CLIENTS AN ADDITIONAL 4 HOURS PER WEEK. THE CENTER BEGAN HOSTING A CLOTHING CLOSET THAT SERVED ALMOST 400 CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MEN. THE CLOTHING CLOSET WAS ORGANIZED AND STAFFED SOLELY BY VOLUNTEERS AND GREW INTO A MONTHLY EV ENT AIDED BY THE PRESENCE OF MORE SPANISH-SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS.VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE ENGLISH COACHING AND CIVICS TUTORING FOR THOSE PREPARING FOR THE CITIZENSHIP TEST. CLIENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH SKILLS AND MINIMAL COMPUTER LITERACY WERE ASSISTED WITH UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING THEIR BILLS, APPLYING FOR PASSPORTS AND DRIVERS LICENSES, AND RENEWING THEIR CHILDRENS HEALTH INSURANCE. THE CENTER ALSO REFERRED CLIENTS TO NUMEROUS COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDING CIVIL LEGAL AID, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY, ENGLISH CLASSES AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE. REFERRALS WERE ALSO MADE TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR SERVICES NOT AVAILABLE AT THE CLINICS.WITH OVER 80% OF ITS CLIENTS BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTER IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND NECESSITIES FOR IMMIGRANTS IN ITS COMMUNITY.

---

---

Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202003219349306310_public.xml