Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a significant change in the city’s response to the illegal immigrant crisis. The city will now provide support for up to six months, offering around 1,000 spaces for housing. This shift comes after Denver did not receive federal aid and has served over 40,000 immigrants since late 2022.
The city’s budget plan of nearly $90 million outlines funding for immigrant housing and aid for the rest of 2024. Mayor Johnston emphasized the importance of finding a sustainable solution that maintains dignity for newcomers while avoiding severe cuts to city services.
Denver, along with other Democratic-led cities, had requested federal assistance from the Biden administration to help manage the influx of migrants. However, Congress rejected President Biden’s request for $1.4 billion in funding, resulting in cuts to FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
The new approach in Denver aims to accommodate surges of immigrants while focusing on helping them become self-sufficient. Immigrants will be housed in apartments for up to six months, receiving job and skills training, opportunities for certifications, unpaid job experience, food assistance, and support in filing asylum applications.
The “Denver Asylum Seeker Program” will provide intensive preparation during the six-month waiting period for work permits after applying for asylum. Mayor Johnston emphasized the importance of upholding American values in addressing these challenges.
City departments in Denver were tasked with finding ways to reduce costs earlier this year, leading to a decrease in the number of illegal immigrants being housed daily. This reduction allowed for a revised budget plan of $45.9 million in cuts, bringing the total budget for the program to $89.9 million for the year.
Funding for the program includes allocations for administration, housing, supportive services, transportation, capital costs, and contingencies. Various cost-cutting measures, including not filling job vacancies and reducing services and supplies expenses, were implemented to support the program.
Denver currently houses about 800 immigrants in shelters, with plans to reach the 1,000-program cap soon. The city has leveraged partnerships with nonprofits and individuals offering rental assistance to support the new program, which aims to provide a model for other cities facing similar challenges.
Mayor Johnston expressed confidence in the city’s ability to assist immigrants effectively and efficiently, emphasizing the importance of sharing their strategies with other cities. The city will continue to operate a congregate shelter with shorter stays to accommodate the evolving needs of immigrants in the community. Please rewrite this sentence.
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