DENVER — Denver’s policies to welcome and support migrants have led the city to a point where there is no more money and no more space.
Advocates for migrants say the city should close its doors to new arrivals as Denver prepares to start discharging families who’ve been living in shelters for months.
"This is where we are. It’s not going to be easy," said Yoli Casas, Director of Vive Wellness. "It is going to be a huge challenge."
If there is one person who knows the challenges of 40,000 migrants arriving in Denver, it’s Casas. She runs Vive Wellness, leading the efforts by nonprofits to help people who’ve arrived here from the southern border.
As the city prepares to resume discharging migrant families from shelters Monday, she’s still trying to figure out exactly how it’ll be possible to keep them from being homeless.
"There’s no more room. There’s no more funding," Casas said. "Something has to be done. To the point that I even requested myself that we close Denver. I don’t want to see people on the street. That’s not who we are."
On Monday, 150 people will be discharged from the shelters. More will follow every day. Casas said 743 families currently need housing. Some families could become homeless by Monday.
"The first day we have 22 families that we don’t know what to do," Casas said. "They’re like, 'we don’t know where to go.'"
In November, Denver paused discharging families from shelters because of the cold weather and because the number of people housed in city shelters was low enough to provide room. Now, there’s no money and no room.
Casas, one of the biggest advocates for migrants in this city, says it’s time to stop letting more people come to Denver.
"Say that we’re closed for now. Not forever, but we’ve got to address this right now," Casas said. "Denver has done so much. Something is going to happen. It’s going to collapse if people keep coming and we still have people that we don’t know what to do with."
"It is unsustainable. It’s unsustainable to continue spending at this rate," said Jon Ewing with Denver Human Services. "We know that."
When the city starts discharging families who’ve stayed in shelters for more than their allotted 42 days, the city will no longer guarantee housing. The city’s message is also starting to change away from one of welcoming support.
"I think you can go down the streets now and see the desperation in people as they try to find a job, try to secure work, and they find they’re competing with everyone else looking for these limited number of jobs, resources," Ewing said. "That’s why we’re constantly telling people, you really may want to consider another city that has more to offer right now."
The city is offering help finding housing along with legal and health services. Their goal is for everyone to find housing once they are released from shelters. While migrants traveling with children are allowed to stay in shelters for six weeks, individuals are only allowed to stay for 14 days.
"Some of them have been in shelter for four months," Ewing said. "When you’ve been in shelter for four months, we have to really buckle down and say, what’s keeping you here? What is the obstacle to you getting on your feet and getting out of this?"
Denver has already decided that Feb. 5 means families will start being discharged from shelters. What hasn’t been determined is where they will go.
"It’s hard," Casas said. "They’re crying and begging. Some of them are upset. It’s totally understandable. It’s not an easy thing."
Casas has a plea that she asked 9NEWS to share. If anyone has an apartment, rental home, or extra room that they can rent to migrants, they are in desperate need. As of right now, they still need nearly two dozen leases for people who will be kicked out of shelters Monday.
If you are able to help, you can find more information here or email yoli@vivewellness.org.
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