Fury at Washington's $32 million boost to asylum seekers in Airbnbs and hotel with pool and golf simulator as US-born homeless sleep in muddy tents

Voters have slammed Washington lawmakers for allocating more than $32 million to house asylum seekers in Airbnbs, hotels and shelters when rising numbers of veterans and US-born homeless sleep in muddy tents.

The funds are for shelter and other costs for ever more asylum seekers to the Evergreen State, who live in Airbnbs, church-run shelters and a $129-a-night Hilton DoubleTree, with woodland views, an outdoor pool and a golf simulator.

Critics of the mostly-Democratic politicians who voted for the funding say it is 'opening the floodgates' to more migrants, when the money would be better spent on 'homeless veterans and then our homeless natural citizens.' 

The number of Washington's homeless residents rose by 2,825 people to 28,036 between 2022-23, and the sight of veterans and Americans sleeping rough has become common in Seattle and beyond.

Hundreds of asylum seekers live in a hotel with woodland views, an outdoor pool and a golf simulator

Meanwhile, a growing number of homeless people camp on vacant plots in Washington's wet climate 

The outrage spotlights mounting tensions over ever more asylum seekers crossing the southern border and heading across the US, hurting President Joe Biden's chances of winning reelection in November.

'These people are illegal aliens and have no right to be in this country,' the X/Twitter user known as Eric Hartmann posted about the funding plan.

'Why do you give illegal aliens preference in housing over Americans?'

Others said 'Biden's newcomers' were a drain on Washington taxpayers, and that paid-for housing should be awarded to homeless veterans and people who were born in the US before helping migrants.

'Help our homeless veterans and then our homeless natural citizens first,' posted user John Rawkstaugh.

The Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature earlier this month set aside more than $32 million in an updated state budget for new migrant arrivals to the state, according to The Seattle Times.

More than $25 million is set to fund its Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, followed by $5 million to King County and $2.5 million to the city of Tukwila, which is home to a well-known church that houses migrants.

The money is earmarked for newcomers who do not qualify for federal aid.

Social media users reacted angrily to the new funding plan by Washington's Democrats 

The budget still needs to be signed by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee before the end of the month

Washington's leaders have started to forcibly tear down the homeless encampments that sprung up in downtown Seattle   

As well as accommodation, it can be used to buy food, transport, and legal services for migrants.

Another $1 million of it would go to school districts, such as Tukwila, that have seen an influx of homeless migrant students.

The budget still needs to be signed by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee before a March 30 deadline.

The new funding will supplement the local government and private money that has paid for migrant rooms to date.

Asylum seekers typically cannot work until their cases have been assessed.

Many have to wait for months before they can start earning wages to cover rent and food.

Groups of asylum seekers have found temporary lodgings in Airbnbs and more than 100 have sheltered in two hotels in South King County.

More than 300 asylum seekers are living at a DoubleTree in SeaTac, reportedly paid out of county coffers and only until this summer.

Riverton Park United Methodist Church started sheltering newly arrived migrants and asylum-seekers in December 2022

Some Washingtonians without a roof over their heads have turned to RVs as a housing solution

The three star $129-a-night airport hotel has forest views, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and a 'state-of-the-art golf simulator,' according to the hotel's website.

The Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila, run by pastor Jan Bolerjack, began sheltering newly arrived migrants and asylum-seekers in December 2022.

The center has helped hundreds of arrivals, many from Venezuela and Angola.

Extra funding for Washington's asylum seekers is controversial, as the number of homeless US citizens has risen so sharply in recent years.

Rising housing costs and the sunsetting of pandemic-era aid programs led to an 11 percent rise in the overall numbers of homeless people in Washington.

The number of homeless Washingtonians grew 2,825 to 28,036 people between 2022 and 2023, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report.

That includes homeless immigrants and asylum seekers, which are not counted separately.

The numbers are understood to be a significant undercount.

Many homeless erect makeshift tents beneath overpasses to protect themselves from Washington's rainy climate.