DENVER — Denver’s promise to be a welcoming city for migrants has reached its limit. On Monday, the city started its plan to force hundreds of families out of shelters. Now they’re relying on private donations and nonprofits to keep them from becoming homeless.
Data from the city shows 160 people were expected to be discharged from shelters on Monday. Thousands more will face the same fate between now and March 28.
Denver officials and advocates for migrants say every family discharged Monday was put in contact with nonprofits to get housing or received shelter through individual assistance from other families.
Cristian Reyes Torres, his wife Areleides -- who is seven months pregnant -- and their 4-year-old daughter Illaris left their hotel Monday morning with all their belongings.
"They kicked me out of the shelter because our time was up," Cristian said in Spanish. "They gave me a card that said that I had to leave today. Feb. 5. I had to leave by 9 a.m."
With nowhere else to go, they made their way across town and waited for a family that had offered to help them find housing.
Denver is out of money and out of space. The government can no longer house migrant families indefinitely through the winter -- not even the ones with kids or kids on the way.
"My wife is pregnant. And my daughter. I could sleep in whichever shelter with a bunch of people there. Even if I don’t know them, I’d do that. But with her, let’s see what we can find?" Cristian said.
Cristian and his family got help from a family who wanted to stay anonymous. A nonprofit also helped them find a home on Monday night to stay in for a month with another family.
"It’s very difficult," Areleides said. "Very difficult."
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