For many people seeking asylum or citizenship in the U.S., getting here is just the start. Then there’s often the long legal work that needs to be done to stay in the country. For some families, there’s also the need for shelter.
Casa Marianella is a temporary safe house for migrants and refugees seeking asylum. The main house – there are 11 – is on a quiet, tree-lined block in a colorful residential neighborhood in East Austin. Across the street, two other buildings house a benefits clinic, a law office, a free acupuncture clinic and more beds for new residents.
“There are people cooking wonderful cuisines from around the world, people are outside having picnics, the children are playing,” says Jennifer Long, the shelter’s executive director. “It’s like a little village.”