AURORA, Colorado — More than 300 families were forced to leave their apartment complex off Nome Street and Colfax Avenue by Tuesday morning. The city of Aurora deemed it uninhabitable, boarding and fencing up the building. The water has also been shut off.
The city of Aurora and Mayor Mike Coffman said the unprecedented action by the city is the result of years of dangerous code violations. The city of Aurora said the impending closure of the apartment building operated by CBZ Management is due to years of neglect by the landlord, not gang activity.
The apartment had about 100 units with families, children and individuals. The city gave tenants just six days to vacate and put out a call to community organizations to help with relocation, assistance and funding. The city is offering to help with security deposits for people who secure housing and has promised to put people in hotel rooms for the rest of the month.
"We have created an in-community housing solution born out of the current humanitarian crisis," Andrea Ryall, Executive Director of Hope Has No Borders, said. "So it’s a 90-day program."
In partnership with 211, Ryall started the Hope Host Home Program. Newly arriving migrants can call the help center where they will begin the intake process in Spanish. Then, they will be matched with hosts who have passed a background test as well as other eligibility requirements.
"The mission is really designed to help individuals to go from crisis to hope, and that’s not really just newcomers," Ryall said. "That is our community as well. Our community has been thrown into chaos from a crisis. What happens when we come together and help each other is we stabilize to help our whole community."
The 90-day program launched in May 2024. The timeline of three months was designed initially to help newcomers bridge some of the time from arrival and their applications for asylum. Once they apply, they then need to wait 150 days to receive a work permit. Ninety days provide an opportunity for housing while they don't have an opportunity to work.
For any hosts who want to participate in the program, they can also call 211 between Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The program is looking for anyone with a spare room, bedroom or ADU.