Starting Feb. 5, Denver will start limiting the number of days migrants can stay in shelters and sending those who exceed their stay out onto the streets.

Starting Feb. 5, Denver will start limiting the number of days migrants can stay in shelters and sending those who exceed their stay out onto the streets.

Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Denver over the past year, making a city with a population of just over 710,000 the top destination per capita for newly arrived migrants crossing the U.S. southern border and traveling north in buses from Texas.

The influx is taking a toll on the city’s public safety net. Starting Feb. 5, Denver will limit the number of days migrants can stay in shelters and send those who exceed their stay out onto the streets.

One Venezuelan family, a mother, father and their three daughters, told NBC News they’ve been staying at a hotel paid for by the city, but they’ve just received notice that they’ll be evicted.

“Just yesterday they started throwing away the toys, the bicycles in the common area,” the mother said. “We don’t know where we will go next.”

Denver Health, the city’s “safety net” hospital, is asking for more money from both the state and federal government to help cover $10 million in unpaid medical bills from migrants.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston estimates the city will need $100 million over 2024 to pay for housing, schooling, health care and other services as a result of the unexpected influx of migrants.

  • weeeeum@lemmy.worldEnglish
    83·
    9 months ago

    “back then” the US only had a population of 200 million compared to today’s 330 million, and a massive labour demand since very few products were imported (contrast to Chinese made goods today). Now there’s either a shortage of everything or programs being stretched razor thin.

    Food, housing, electricity, gas, rent and many other bills are extremely expensive. Our schooling, colleges, shelters public infrastructure, roads, hospitals are at constant maximum or above capacity.

    We have got to help ourselves before we help others, the average American is already being crushed under the weight and costs of the modern day. Adding millions more mouths to feed and house isn’t going to help the situation.

    • Ross_audio@lemmy.world
      41·
      9 months ago

      GDP per capita has only risen.

      The concentration of wealth (including the lower labour demand) is the problem. Not the immigration.

      Time to tax passive earnings at least the same as active ones, preferably more.