Migrants Can't Afford Their Rent

Migrants in the Democratic-run sanctuary cities of Denver and Chicago are reportedly having difficulty staying in residences, despite programs put in place to deter widespread homelessness.

Denver has experienced the largest per-capita surge of migrants of any city in the nation, spending $68 million to accommodate incoming migrants as of April 8. Some 40,908 migrants have entered the city in just over a year and 831 are currently sheltered, as of April 11. Mayor Mike Johnston previously warned that Colorado's largest city was running "out of space" in its migrant shelters.

Meanwhile in Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced in November 2023 the $160 million expansion of the Asylum Seeker Emergency Rental Assistance Program introduced in 2022—including $30 million to erect a large intake center in Chicago "to welcome and coordinate new arrivals, prioritizing onward movement," and in turn decrease shelter needs by some 10 percent.

The plan also included $65 million towards temporary housing for up to 2,000 people at any given time for six months, and another $65 million towards aiding new arrivals "to live independently" while they await asylum hearings and the legal aspects associated with them.

"There are three anchors to this new phase in our plan: creating pathways to resettlement, community integration and reunification, creating jobs for Chicagoans in staffing the New Arrivals Mission, and building public infrastructure for the public good," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in November.

"Above all, we are treating our new neighbors with compassion because it is the humane thing to do and because with support, they can become productive members of our communities, contributing to our economy, our culture and our society."

Newsweek reached out to the Chicago mayoral office via email for comment.

"The city does not track families after they have left the shelter system, but non-profits partnering with the city are working closely with newcomers to ensure they have a long-term plan that includes stable housing," Jordan Fuja, press secretary for Johnston, told Newsweek.

As of mid-March of this year, the asylum program has helped about 4,600 households in Chicago move out of shelters and into apartments since December 2022, according to Block Club Chicago.

But as some officials have touted the program, others have admonished it for backlogs associated with work permits and asylum applications—as well as what migrants endure when rental assistance expires, having nowhere to go. Migrants in Denver have also told about their struggle to pay rent.

Borderless Magazine reported in December that Venezuelan migrants who arrived before July 31 and are protected with Temporary Protected Status designation by the Biden administration struggle to find legal employment because the process towards legal status can take months on end. It also doesn't lead to permanent citizenship.

Daisy Contreras, spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Human Services, told Block Club Chicago that the state "hasn't seen a trend of residents losing their housing," adding that Illinois isn't keeping tabs on people successfully continuing their leases.

"There have been instances of people leaving or moving, but the state does not track why or when residents leave on their own accord," she said.

Newsweek reached out to the department via email for comment.

Daniela Rodriguez told local NBC affiliate KUSA in Denver, in her native Spanish, that she and her husband, Sabil, started struggling with rent in January and have waited on work authorization. Steady work has reportedly been hard to come by.

"If you still don't have a work permit, you cannot afford rent," said Sabil Rodriguez, who said he thought he would have found something more permanent by now.

Sabil said that he and his wife received one-time financial aid to be placed in their apartment through a nonprofit organization, but it is not sustainable.

"If you still don't have a work permit, you cannot afford rent," he said.

Following eviction notices and a legal battle, the couple reached an agreement with their apartment property owner's lawyers to vacate outside of the court, which the judge approved. It was decided they would have about seven days to vacate.

"It's not that we don't want to pay," she said. "We want to, but we can't right now without a job. We want to continue moving forward, and we made friends.

"Well, right now, we are going to rent a small room [from them], and it is a little bit more economical for us to be there."

Denver currently operates one hotel shelter, according to an April 8 update from officials, in addition to a congregate site for newcomers. The city continues to partner with the Archdiocese of Denver and Catholic Charities of Denver to provide bridge housing for a limited number of families with children.

On Wednesday, officials announced that the new Denver Asylum Seekers Program will open its doors to approximately 1,000 people currently in the city's newcomer shelter system. Since all of the individuals are potential asylum seekers, they must wait at least 180 days after applying for asylum to receive work authorization.

It's part of what Johnston said will lead to about $45.9 million in savings and not require extra budget cuts, nor will new arrivals lead to city employee layoffs or furloughs. Savings come from reduced hiring for difficult-to-hire positions, fewer supplies purchases, and the deferral of some technology and capital projects.

"After more than a year of facing this crisis together, Denver finally has a sustainable plan for treating our newcomers with dignity while avoiding the worst cuts to city services," said Johnston. "So many times we were told that we couldn't be compassionate while still being fiscally responsible. Today is proof that our hardest challenges are still solvable, and that together we are the ones who will solve them."

Denver is trying to meet such migrants in the middle as part of a new program launched last month to connect property owners/landlords with migrants in need of long-term housing, for less than $2,000 per month, according to Denverite.

Newsweek reached out to the Colorado Department of Human Services via email for information about the program and how many have utilized it.

Update 04/15/24, 10:24 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's office.