Councilmember Patterson provides “retired” van to Maiwut South Sudanese Refugee Services

October 5, 2012

Summary

Local organization receives vehicle to meet transportation needs of clients

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson has provided an eight-passenger van to Maiwut South Sudanese Refugee Services (MSSRS), a non-profit organization that assists refugees living in and around Kent. MSSRS will use the van to transport refugees living in South King County, helping get them to services, schools, community events, and employment and housing opportunities. This vehicle will be particularly helpful for individuals without easy access to public transportation.

“Refugees coming to our communities often face language, cultural, and transportation barriers to accessing services and finding employment and housing,” Councilmember Patterson said. “MSSRS helps refugees overcome these barriers in the Kent area, and I’m pleased that King County is able to help MSSRS better meet their clients’ transportation needs.”

Maiwut South Sudanese Refugee Services is a mutual self-help organization founded by and for South Sudanese Refugees, with the mission to help meet the needs of refugees adjusting to life in the United States. In May, MSSRS organized the first Sudanese community festival in Kent, which was well-attended by the community. Leaders of the festival report that during the past 5-10 years, approximately 900 adult Sudanese refugees and their children have settled in the region, many of whom fled extremely adverse situations in Sudan.

Although South Sudanese refugees are adjusting to life in King County, many are struggling to find affordable housing, employment, and resources to help them educate their children. MSSRS is a resource in the Kent area, helping alleviate the difficulties that refugees encounter when adjusting to a new country and community. The van provided by King County will increase MSSRS’s ability to assist the refugees living in the county.

Since 1995, the County Council has donated vans from Metro’s Vanpool to local nonprofit organizations to provide transportation for low-income, elderly, youth, and disabled residents. The vans are part of a fleet of county vehicles that have been ‘retired’ after accruing a certain number of miles.

Governments, agencies and organizations that receive vans must meet specific requirements, including outlining specific plans for using the van, ability to provide quality and trained drivers, and assurance that the van will be available to assist persons without regard to affiliation with any particular organization.

Interested organizations can contact Councilmember Patterson for more information on applying for a vehicle.