Denver City’s councilmembers recently delayed a vote on a $6 million contract to manage the distribution of food and provide services for immigrants in the Asylum Seekers Program. The contract, which would have allocated funds to Haven of Hope, raised concerns among councilmembers who questioned why the program was not providing direct assistance to participants, similar to the Denver Basic Income Project.
Councilmember Shontel Lewis highlighted the success of the Basic Income Project in providing unconditional funds to individuals, allowing them autonomy in decision-making. The recent study showed that 45% of participants found stable housing after receiving assistance.
Sarah Plastino, leading the city’s response to the immigration crisis, explained the concerns surrounding direct cash assistance to immigrants without legal authorization to work. The city wanted to avoid the perception of providing illegal payment to migrants.
Councilmember Jamie Torres also addressed the issue of regular payments potentially impacting immigrants’ immigration applications in the future.
The council postponed the vote on the contract in order to seek further clarification and address the concerns raised by councilmembers. Councilmember Stacie Gilmore emphasized the need for a clear understanding of the legal implications and reasons for providing or not providing direct assistance to immigrants.
Despite the postponement, the council unanimously agreed to continue discussions and seek more information before moving forward with the contract.
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