PRIDE

munity in particular is incredibly great and Casa Al-Fatiha is responding to this growing need by providing room and board . . . I can’t stress enough how desperately needed this sort of housing is,” explains Ryan Smith of Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants in an Instagram video. ICDI partners with Casa Al-Fatiha to o er mentorship and case management for those living in the house.

One of the asylum seekers is Luis Martinez. After spending time in Otay Mesa Detention Center in California, Martinez, a political exile from Honduras, found a home this spring at the colorful, plant- and music-fi lled house.

much of my role there was about facilitating the space as a sanctuary and giving the space for marginalized people,” Rye says. They suggested creating this same sense of community at Earphoria for LGBTQ asylum seekers.

Casa Al-Fatiha is working with different immigrant and refugee support groups such as ICDI and Organized Communities Against Deportations to connect asylum seekers with a sponsor and a place to stay.

“That way we can make sure that people landing here have the resources and space [they need],” says Mah Nu, a musician, resident, and cofounder. “My priority is to make sure that there is space that is comfortable and conducive and deserving of the people that are going to be here.”