Denver has shuttered its final hotel shelter for migrants, marking a major shift in the city’s approach to supporting newcomers.
The closure is part of a two-month effort to relocate migrants into apartments or transitional housing.
Jon Ewing, a city spokesperson, noted the dramatic decrease in arrivals, stating, “We’ve had four charter buses arrive in June,” compared to 144 in December.
This decline has allowed the city to reevaluate its housing strategy for migrants.
The city has supported over 42,000 newcomers at a cost exceeding $72 million.
“At one point it was $90 a person in a hotel per night. So if you think of a family of three, you’re talking $270 per night in a hotel,” Ewing stated, contrasting it with the $1,600 monthly cost for an apartment.
“The math makes sense pretty quickly,” he added.
Beyond cost savings, Ewing noted the benefits of independent living for migrants, including daily meals and security previously provided by hotels.
“This isn’t over. The migrant crisis isn’t over,” he stated. “People are still going to arrive, people are still going to need help.”
The city continues to operate two shelters for migrants – one for families and another for individuals – and continues its outreach efforts for those living on the streets through Mayor Mike Johnston’s All In Mile High initiative, which aims to house 2,000 people.
“We’ve moved 1,600 people off the streets into housing, and we’re still looking to hit our goal of 2,000, and we will make it,” Ewing affirmed.
The city also reported that the Denver Asylum Seekers Program was initiated in April by Mayor Johnston.
The program offers long-term support to newcomers lacking immediate federal work authorization.
Around 800 individuals have begun applying for asylum, with a requirement for at least one adult per household to engage in 20 hours of weekly job training through WorkReady Denver.
“Denver has assisted more than 2,300 people with applying for work authorization since February,” a city statement revealed.
