Shelter Length-of-Stay Duration Shortened for Individuals, Lengthened for Families
The City and County of Denver is altering length-of-stay policies in its migrant shelters in response to a significant increase in new arrivals from the southern border.
To date, Denver has served more than 21,000 migrants at a cost of $26 million. Over the past week the daily average of new arrivals is nearly 300, with the total migrant shelter population now 2,500 and nine buses from Texas arriving in Denver on Sunday alone. These unprecedented numbers are up sharply from even mid-September, when the daily average of newcomers to Denver was 125 and the shelter population was 1,200. This influx – the third, following the initial wave in December and a second surge in May – is affecting shelter capacity and straining staffing availability.
In response, adult migrant guests without children will be accommodated in shelter facilities for 14 days rather than 21, while migrant families with children will be allowed to stay for 37 days instead of 30. The change, which takes effect Wednesday, Oct. 4, will not impact individuals who arrived prior to that date.
Denver is primarily responsible for providing temporary, emergency shelter. With the arrival of cold weather on the horizon, Denver is calling on communities around the state to support the sheltering effort, and on nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and individuals to aid in the response by volunteering, joining the effort as a contract worker, and donating needed items such as clothing. The city is grateful to its partners, which have made this a true community effort.
Cities or towns interested in providing temporary shelter for newly arriving migrants should contact Adam Paul, director of regional affairs for the Mayor’s Office, at adam.paul@denvergov.org.
Donations can be delivered to the Richard T. Castro Human Services Center at 1200 N. Federal Blvd. Winter items such as hats, scarves, socks and gloves are especially needed.
Individuals who wish to donate should carefully review the instructions, wayfinding tips and maps available at Denvergov.org/MigrantSupport. To schedule a donation drop off, call (303) 514-0643. Important donation instructions can be found at Denvergov.org/MigrantSupport. The Newcomers Fund also continues to accept monetary donations from the public. Donations go directly to the city’s nonprofit partners.
