Since early November, when Carbondale realized the presence of over 100 refugees, mostly from Venezuela, living in cars and tents by the river at the intersection of highways 82 and 133, the Roaring Fork Valley has rallied to support these newcomers through the harsh winter. There’s no easy solution for this unprecedented scenario; it’s a lot of people, all at once.
As reported by the Colorado Sun, more than 27,000 Venezuelans have arrived in Denver over the past year, mostly from Texas. Some 7.7 million Venezuelans left their country in recent years due to an economic crisis attributed to the government of Nicolás Maduro (reelected in 2018) and exacerbated by foreign sanctions. The reality of average Venezuelans: there is no money.
Groups began coming to Carbondale over the summer seeking to fill the labor needs and earn higher standard wages. As one Venezuelan informed The Sopris Sun, two to three hours of work here is equivalent to one month’s pay in Venezuela.
For the past month, the Third Street Center has served as a makeshift shelter, allowing 60 people to stay per night in the community hall, formerly a school gym. Others sleep just outside in cars, some without registration or even license plates.
A number of sympathetic churches have organized to provide breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. As one supporter at St. Mary of the Crown Catholic Church told The Sopris Sun, “People want to be independent, whether they decide to stay here or move on… No one wants to be dependent for their basic necessities.”
To that end, Voces Unidas de las Montañas is working to gain those eligible Temporary Protected Status (TPS) which requires proof of having entered the country by the end of July 2023. TPS was expanded to include Venezuelans in 2021, and lasts 18 months with the opportunity to renew but no guarantee. This protects immigrants from deportation and allows them to pursue work authorization. The cost to apply for TPS is $545 per person, $50 for minors under the age of 14, and the process could take several months.
Carbondale’s plan is to shelter up to 100 people through the end of March. Venezuela is a tropical country, very unlike Colorado’s deep winters. In addition to the Third Street Center, the Town has so far opened the Rec Center to the newcomers for use of the showers. Rob Stein, former Roaring Fork School District superintendent, is helping organize efforts to open more, smaller shelters and spread out the impact.
The Town has requested $223,880 from the Department of Local Affairs to cover: immediate congregate sheltering services at various locations (est. $10,000 per month), custodial services (est. $3,100 per month), a security contract (est. $6,000 per month), utilities (est. $1,200 per month for heat, water and trash) and sanitary services (six-seat toilet trailer rental and pump out at larger shelter facility est. $4,600 per month); support for intake and initial case management and services (language services, medical care, medical supplies, behavioral health services, public health services, food, clothing, hygiene products and other incidentals, est. $80 per month per person for 125 persons); ground transportation costs for transferring refugees between shelter facilities or for relocation services (est. $20,000 for the four-month period); hiring two full-time shelter manager/coordinators at 80 hours per week for the four-month period, as well as a Response Coordinator position for approximately eight weeks at 25 hours per week, plus municipal legal expenses (est. $64,280).
Age-Friendly Carbondale in association with the local Rebekah Lodge provided an abundance of winter clothing with a coat drive in November and is next hosting a “free store” on Dec. 20. Donations will be accepted at the Near New (302 Main Street) through Dec. 16 — only clean items in good condition will be accepted. The Near New is open Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 4pm.
Needed:
Men’s winter clothing, jackets, shirts, sweaters, base layers (small to large) boots sizes 8-10, jeans 30-36 and gloves; warm women’s jackets and boots size 6-7.5; bath towels, wash cloths, new bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo, shaving cream and deodorant. If you feel inclined to support monetarily, visit: www.bit.ly/VocesFund or to assist with food, contact your preferred faith institution and join their network.