EIN: 54-2036192
Mission Statement
SEEC’s mission is to raise the standard of low-wage, immigrant day laborers in Arlington County so that Day Laborers and other immigrant workers can participate in dignified work, in safe working conditions, and earn fair wages. We provide an opportunity for Day Laborer to find safe work at a fair wage and to obtain skills that improve their employability and we work to improve the overall conditions of day Laborers in Arlington.
Program Summary
SEEC provides services to Day Laborers – workers who provide a critical temporary labor force for local construction, food, janitorial, moving support and landscaping businesses, without whom these businesses could not survive. Arlington’s Day Laborers are majority Latino (over 95%) recently immigrated men, over 95%, who are unable to obtain or maintain permanent part-or full-time employment.
The majority of SEEC’s clients are from Zip Codes 22204 and 22206; over 70% are from 22204. As recent lone immigrants, most have little or no familial support in the area and lack English language skills, which presents a barrier to employment. These Laborers are extremely low- to no income workers who present with immediate critical needs for jobs, food, housing, emergency funds, and medical care. In FY 2024, 80% fit the criteria for homelessness; 90%
reported food insecurity; and approximately one third required referral to the Arlington Free Clinic ( AFC). In a society that often fears single Latinos and men of color congregating in public places and who resemble – or are – homeless and unemployed, historically marginalized, Day Laborers face a significant amount of institutional, systemic, and individual discrimination, are often isolated, and require protection from the illegal labor practices and exploitation encountered on job sites.
Impact Statement
SEEC provided vital services to the immigrant community that included:
What ways can the public get involved?
We invite volunteers who can tutor English to our clients.
We need volunteers to provide transportation to take day laborers to local jobs.
We invite volunteers to provide bag lunches for the day labores.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Over 95% of the charitable donations go to pay for training and support for the day laborers. This includes paying for temporary rent, bus transportation, for the cell phones that are essential to communicating with employers, prescription drugs and meals for those who can’t find work and are going hungry.
Information provided March 2025