Making Room for Farmworkers

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By Molly Kelleher

Summary

Two downtown Pasco eyesores are about to get an extreme makeover. But it's not just about cleaning up their act, the goal is to find migrant workers a place to stay.

Story Published: Jun 3, 2009 at 5:52 PM PST

Making Room for Farmworkers
PASCO - Two downtown Pasco eyesores are about to get an extreme makeover. But it's not just about cleaning up their act, the goal is to find migrant workers a place to stay.

The old "Travel Inn" has been vacant for years, but now it's being gutted to make way for seasonal workers.

"Farmworkers looking for work, looking for something affordable licensed and they need a clean place that's well kept well managed," said Marty Miller of The Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH).

Farmworker housing is coming to downtown Pasco, but the old motel isn't the only one getting this extreme makeover, just take a walk one block down.

The SeaMar Motel is the next stop for construction crews. Work here will start soon so that both places will be ready by next Spring, ready for the next crop of migrants and the next season.

"You know there are thousand of farmworkers needed in Benton and Franklin county tens of thousands. We're just scratching the surface in overall demand," said Miller.

But 217 beds is a start, the project is called "La Posada" and the price tag for both renovations is about $4 million. That is paid with private and public money.

Local leaders often talk about the need to get more migrant housing, but the debate gets heated when you talk about where to put it. We saw that this week, when Basin City residents sounded off at Franklin County commissioners.

They say not in my backyard, but the group heading up this project doesn't expect that to happen here since they are breathing new life into old eyesores.

"It's taking advantage of existing buildings in despair and converting them into new modern use. It's an opportunity to convert an eyesore," said Miller.

The group heading up this project, ORFH, is also working on long-term housing for people in Wapato. There are 50 units available there and already hundreds have applied for those spots.