Embedded Files
Overview
You are not alone.
Meeting basic needs like food, housing, clothing, and transportation is essential for student success—but undocumented and DACA students often face added barriers to accessing public benefits. Community organizations, food banks, housing coalitions, and mutual aid networks provide confidential, low-cost, or free services that can help students and families stay safe and supported.
Tips
Food Access. Many food banks and pantries do not require ID or proof of citizenship—check local community centers and mutual aid groups
Housing Support. Reach out early if you face housing insecurity. Some nonprofits offer rental assistance, shelter referrals, or emergency housing options
Transportation. Look for reduced-fare or student-discount transit passes through your campus or local transit agency
Campus Support. Colleges often provide emergency aid funds, food pantries, or short-term housing for students in crisis
Ask in Your Language. Don’t hesitate to request information or services in the language you are most comfortable with—this is your right
Table of Contents
Child Care
Child Care
ChildCare Aware of Washington
A non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child in WA state has access to high-quality care and early learning programs. They serve as the state’s most thorough and accessible source of information and support in early care and education (birth to 12 years). They act as a resource and referral hub for both families seeking child care and child care providers looking to improve their services, and they also play a significant role in advocacy and policy-making to improve the child care system in Washington. They provide Financial Assistance to families who earn at or below 60% of the State Median Income (for a family of four, that is $61,675 per year). They also provide an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program, also known as “Holding Hope,” in which they aim to promote the social-emotional development and wellbeing of young children in child care settings. They also provide Guides, Forms & Resources for Current Scholars for students who want to obtain a BA in Early Childhood Education, a Montessori Credential Pathway, those pursuing a University of Washington Certificate in Practice-Based Coaching, and many more.
Contact Info: (800) 446-1114, familycenter@childcare.org
Community Resources
Community Resources
Latino Community Resource Group
What They Do: LCRG is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing reproductive justice and health equity for the Latinx community in Vancouver, Washington. They provide culturally responsive education, advocacy, and direct support around sexual and reproductive health, immigrant rights, and community wellness. Visit this link to explore their services, community events, and resources.
What They Offer
Health education workshops, abortion and reproductive care navigation, policy advocacy, and community outreach in English and Spanish.
Who They Serve Latinx individuals and families, especially those facing language, cultural, or immigration barriers to care.
Contact Info: lcrg.sw.wa@gmail.com
Entre Hermanos
They are Seattle’s Latine LGBTQ+ organization, where they are dedicated to promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, an56o this through the provision of disease prevention, free immigration consultations, housing support, and community building through support groups like Las Monarcas, which is focused towards Latina Trans women. If you would like to be a part of Entre Hermanos through volunteering, Sign Up to receive emails with volunteer opportunities, events, and news information. If you would like to know about their upcoming events, visit their Events page.
Why It Matters: A safe space for Latine LGBTQ+ members in which they can find a community, access support services, and receive advocacy from an organization that understands the unique intersectional identities.
Schedule: Mon-Fri from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact Info: (206) 322-7700, info@entrehermanos.org
Location: 1621 S Jackson St. Suite 202, Seattle, WA 98144
Pasitos Gigantes
What Is It:
Pasitos Gigantes is the largest Hispanic-led organization in Southwest Washington (Vancouver, WA) dedicated to supporting families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). They offer culturally informed assistance to help community members navigate complex systems, securing essential services across diverse needs such as therapies, special education, medical care, mental health, language support, and government resources like SSI and DDA services.
Why It Matters: Hispanic families caring for children with I/DD often face heightened challenges due to systemic barriers like limited language access, lack of health insurance, income constraints, and cultural stigmas. Pasitos Gigantes bridges these gaps by offering inclusive, culturally responsive support—serving as trusted advocates, educators, and community allies. Their hybrid model and personalized approach empower families to access the care and resources needed to thrive, fostering equity and belonging within Clark County’s Latiné I/DD community.
Contact Info: (360) 583‑0792, info@pasitosgigantes.org
Location: 2400 E Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
Programs & Services
Weekly Hybrid Support Group (Free): Open to individuals with developmental disabilities, self-advocates, and their families; available both in-person and via Zoom every Tuesday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (during school schedule days).
1:1 Individual Support: Personalized assistance to help families navigate I/DD systems, access services, and connect with needed supports.
Advocacy: Active engagement with school districts, state/federal legislation, and community partners to promote equity and support for the I/DD community.
Monthly Expert Trainings: Professionals provide guidance on navigating special education, medical systems, and other supports to empower families.
Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (HMC) – Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA
What Is It:
The Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (HMC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to leading economic advancement, wealth creation, and equity for Latinos in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Their mission is to close the Latino economic equity gap and build intergenerational wealth through supporting entrepreneurship, education, leadership, and policy advocacy.
Why It Matters: HMC plays a critical role in strengthening economic resilience and representation for Latino communities in the region. By offering business support services, fostering leadership, enabling access to higher education through scholarships, and facilitating connections across sectors, HMC actively contributes to closing systemic inequity gaps. Their multi-pronged approach—from entrepreneurship to education—positions Latinos to thrive as business owners, professionals, and community leaders.
Contact Info: (503) 222‑0280, info@hmccoregon.com
Location: 4400 NE 77th Ave, Suite 275, Vancouver, WA 98662
Payment/Participation Tiers
Membership Levels (Basic & Premium): Businesses and individuals can join HMC through tiered membership categories
Basic Level: Includes benefits like directory listings, event discounts, job board access (up to 5 postings/year), networking, and more. Costs vary depending on business size and type (e.g., Business Micro: $200; Small Business: $350; Individual: $150; Student or retired: $50)
Premium Level: Offers enhanced benefits such as unlimited job postings, enhanced listings, marketing packages, event credits, logo recognition, and more. Pricing is scaled similarly to Basic but with higher tiers (e.g., Business Micro: $400; Small Business: $700; Corporate: $4,500)
Programs & Services
Small Business Development: Offers no-cost, confidential technical assistance (in both Spanish and English) tailored to business needs—covering areas such as bookkeeping, financial planning, marketing, compliance, government contracting, and more.
E‑Commerce Marketplace: A vibrant platform that connects Latino-owned online businesses to customers, promoting collaborative visibility and community economic strength.
Latino Leadership Program: A leadership development initiative designed to cultivate next-generation Latino leaders to drive inclusive economic and community development.
Latino Scholarship Program: Offers annual scholarships to Latino students in Oregon and Clackamas, Multnomah, Marion, and Clark counties with awards ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. To date, they have awarded over $3.1 million to more than 1,205 students.
Resources & Advocacy: Provides multilingual educational materials and tools, including immigrant youth and family resources, protection of rights materials, employer guides, and financial security planning.
Latino Civic Alliance (LCA)
What Is It:
Since 2005, the Latino Civic Alliance (LCA) has promoted advocacy, civic engagement, and social responsibility across Washington State. LCA supports Latino communities by offering programs that foster education, leadership development, workforce readiness, and small business success through culturally informed and equity-centered services.
Contact Info: (206) 402-3677, nfo@latinocivicalliance.org
Headquarters: 14031 Ambaum Blvd. SW, Burien, WA 98116
Civic & Cultural Center: 445 SW 152nd St., Burien, WA 98166
Regional Offices: 21 D St, Suite B2, Quincy, WA 98848,
821 W Broadway, Moses Lake, WA 98837,
1621 Freeway Drive #203, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273,
1103 & 1105 W 5th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204
Programs & Services
Building Future Industry Leaders (BFIL): An 18-month workforce development initiative for individuals ages 16–38, providing training in areas like aerospace, construction, maritime tech, software, CDL certification, and trades; includes job placement and wrap-around support.
I Am Jaguar (DISCOVERY): A youth and family leadership program designed to address aggression and gun violence through culturally grounded conflict-resolution tools, communication training, and educational and vocational pathway planning.
ACHIEVE K–12 SEL Program: An after-school initiative that combines social-emotional learning with culturally responsive youth empowerment and family support. It includes college and pre-apprenticeship guidance and has received regional recognition.
Civil Rights Navigator: Educates families on civil rights in contexts like education, housing, and employment; clarifies legal protections and frameworks.
College & Beyond (Excellence Programs): An 8-week coaching program for 11th–12th grade Latinx students, offering personalized career-path planning and leadership development.
Small Business Technical Assistance: Free consulting for Latino entrepreneurs, offering help with business planning, finance, compliance, marketing, mentorship, and access to tech resources—including Spanish-language support.
Latino Civic & Cultural Center: A burgeoning hub in Burien for civic education, cultural expression, organizing, and community unity.
Parent Engagement Program: Equips parents (especially Latino families) with tools and cultural strategies to enhance dialogue with schools and advocate effectively for their children’s success.
Events & Advocacy
Organizes Latino Legislative Day and Youth Latino Legislative Day in Olympia—yearly events that amplify Latino voices within state policy and leadership circles.
Drives advocacy by publishing legislative priorities and encouraging voter registration and civic participation
Food & Meals
Food & Meals
Food lifeline
A major non-profit organization in the State that intends to end hunger. They provide an interactive map with the location of food banks, meal programs, shelters, farmers markets, community gardens, government nutrition assistance, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and farm stands all throughout the west coast. They also provide Nutrition Assistance for things like SNAP, WIC, Free Summer meals, and many more. If you would like to volunteer at their organization take a look at their Volunteer page for more information.
Why it matters: Assistance with food insecurity and nutrition assistance programs
Schedule: Mon-Fri from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Contact Info: (206) 545-6600, or (877) 404-7543 (toll free)
Location: 815 S 96th St, Seattle, WA 98108
Domestic Violence
Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) – Resources for Immigrant Survivors
What Is It:
AIS curates a comprehensive, regularly updated resource list designed to support immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other gender-based violence. This includes multilingual "Know Your Rights" materials, safety planning tools, legal service directories, advocacy toolkit items, and policy updates—all tailored for survivors, community members, and advocates.
Why It Matters: Survivors often face compounding barriers—legal, linguistic, and systemic—when seeking safety. AIS’s resource list offers actionable tools and information that empower survivors and service providers to navigate those systems with greater confidence and protection. By centralizing vital materials like safety planning guides, fraud-prevention guides, and public benefits overviews, AIS strengthens community resilience and eases access to life-saving services.
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV)
WSCADV highlights that immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence encounter heightened obstacles due to language and cultural barriers, misinformation about their rights, and difficulty navigating complex systems like housing, benefits, healthcare, and immigration. The page emphasizes the importance of culturally informed support and offers guidance for improving service access, particularly through bilingual and bicultural advocacy.
Why It Matters: Survivors with immigrant backgrounds face compounded vulnerabilities—fear of deportation, language access issues, and cultural isolation. By emphasizing culturally responsive advocacy and shared tools for services and advocates, WSCADV helps ensure that these survivors receive equitable, dignified support.
Schedule: 24/7
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799‑7233
TTY: 1‑800‑787‑3224 | Videophone: 1‑855‑812‑1001
Resources
Resources
Legal & Benefit Resources:
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project – direct immigration legal representation
Northwest Justice Project – civil legal support for low-income survivor
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services – limited food, cash, and medical assistance programs for immigrants and their children.
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