Spokane’s Manzanita House supports immigrants with legal aid and community empowerment resources | News [Video]

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane’s Manzanita House is looking to be the region’s leader in giving refugees a place to get the help they need.

Manzanita House said there is about 1,000 refugees coming to the Inland Northwest every year from dozens of different countries.

These refugees need plenty of legal assistance when it comes to getting a green card or citizenship.

“It’s so satisfying to see them be able to achieve that goal that they’ve set for themselves,” said Samuel Smith, the director of immigrant legal aid. “To be able to fully participate in the community that they’ve chosen to call home.”

Manzanita House’s immigrant legal aid team, or MILA, has been working since 2022 to help people and families move toward their goals of living and working in the Inland Northwest.

The MILA team helped over 1,000 clients in 2023, but there is still more demand for affordable legal …