The need for immigrant and refugee services is well documented in the studies done by King County United Way, the cities in south county, and the needs assessment done by Port Jobs, a not-for-profit organization.

One hundred languages are spoken by people living in south King and north Pierce counties. Over 42% of the Southwest King County student population resides in the Highline School district. Bilingual instruction in the Highline District was offered to 1394 students (approximately 8% of the district) speaking 39 different languages during the 1997-1998 school year. The need for job placement assistance, ESL training, a community gathering place, and multi-cultural counseling services is immense.

The new Community Service Center will incorporate space and staffing to meet these needs through two counseling offices, a multi-cultural meeting/gathering room, and office space for LCS staff to be on site to provide needed services. Students and community members will receive assistance in accessing necessary services to include health care, language classes, employment, and housing. Additionally, there will be on-site mental health counseling.

Lutheran Community Services has been a leader in the Puget Sound region in serving the immigrant and refugee populations for over twenty years. With services including foster care for unaccompanied minors, counseling, language training, support in finding housing and employment, LCS has been at the forefront in serving these broad and continually expanding communities.