The Center Square)—The city of Denver is considering approving a $1.2 million contract over eight months to continue emergency shelter staffing and support for arriving migrants.
This is according to the agenda items discussed at the May 29 Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee meeting.
The contract between the city and ViVe Wellness will provide emergency shelter staffing at the Denver Community Church, according to the agenda.
ViVe Wellness will provide staff at these shelters as needed and may include 24/7 operations. This could consist of set up, shelter staff, certified fire watch, tear down, or cleaning. Contractor staff will include securing doors, serving food, bed checks, bag and tagging of personal items left behind, cleaning, and check-in.
The contract runs from April 10, 2024, until December 31, 2024.
This new contract is part of the $70 million the city has spent on migrant services and the 41,807 migrants as of May 20, 2024. According to its website, Denver currently shelters 622 individuals in congregate and non-congregate shelters.
Mayor Mike Johnston announced the opening of the asylum seeker program on April 10 in response to the continued influx of migrants the city has received. The program is limited to those currently in the city’s hotel shelter program or those using bridge housing and will assist with housing assistance programs for up to six months.
The city has budgeted $89.9 million in 2024 for its asylum seeker program and expects 800 migrants to qualify for it initially, as previously reported by The Center Square.
