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 **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2022**

Seattle, WA -- The 28-year-old nonprofit Casa Latina is expanding outside of Seattle as the cost of living rises and many families seek more affordable housing in South King County. Thursday evening, the organization hosted an open house to celebrate the opening of their new second location in Federal Way.

“While this expansion has been in the works for several years, it feels timely and urgent given the rising cost of living,” said Co-Executive Director Vania Adasme. “The skyrocketing cost of living has been a double punch for immigrant families, who were already hit hard by COVID-19.”

Founded in 1994, Casa Latina is a Seattle nonprofit that connects immigrant workers with jobs through its member-led work dispatch program. They are known for being a bedrock within the Central District Neighborhood, where they built a campus in 2009. Now they are opening a new second location in Federal Way and launching an employment program in August for families in South King County.

“The decision to expand to South King County was because of input received from community members,” Adasme shared. “It was from feedback from our community that influenced our decision to pick Federal Way as a new second location.”

“I moved to Kent because it’s where I could find a house,” shared Lorena Ortiz, who plans on participating in Casa Latina’s Federal Way employment program when it launches in August. “To be in Seattle at seven in the morning, I have to leave my house at 6 am. The new Casa Latina location is fifteen minutes from my house. When my daughter's school starts, I won’t have to leave so early to drop her off.”

“Many families have felt that they have been left behind and on their own to navigate these economic challenges. We are excited for Latinx immigrant families in South King County to have easier accessibility to Casa Latina and to hopefully feel more supported,” stated Adasme.

Casa Latina’s job dispatch program in Federal Way will start by offering jobs, workshops, and leadership development training for household cleaners. The program will expand to include additional jobs this Fall.

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For over 28 years, Casa Latina has advanced the power and well-being of Latinx immigrants through employment, education, and community organizing.

Images of our open house event can be found here.