The Colorado Catholic Conference supports HB24-1280, Welcome, Reception, & Integration Grant Program which creates a statewide program to provide much needed grants to community-based organizations that provide to migrants who recently arrived to our state.
HB 1280 is a humanitarian bill designed to support community-based organizations who serve the most vulnerable of our community and comes at a time when many organizations that serve migrants are struggling to meet the needs of their communities. In Denver alone, 40,000 migrants have arrived in 2023– more per-capita than any city in the U.S. in that timeframe. This influx of migrants has overwhelmed many of the institutions who serve them, including the three Catholic Charities in Colorado – Catholic Charities of Denver, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, and Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado.
While community-based organizations have done a remarkable job of responding to increased demand and helping to provide for the basic needs of migrants, their capacity and resources are limited. The strain on resources impacts the entirety of these organizations services, making it increasingly challenging to fulfill the Gospel-mandated mission to serve the poorest and most vulnerable of our community. HB 1280 would go a long way toward alleviating the financial burden and expanding capacity.
Catholic Charities meet families where they are and provide a continuum of services including emergency support (clothing, diapers, formula, etc.), referrals to other resources, and case management (assessment, access to benefits, goal setting, and financial support). The recent migrant families in Charities’ care want to work, they want their children to grow up in home where they don’t need to constantly worry about safety, and, when they reach a level of stability, they want to give back to the communities that welcomed them. Organizations like Catholic Charities help get them there.
By passing this bill, the Colorado General Assembly would help organizations serve recent arrivals to the state and provide basic necessities and services that help them integrate into our community.
The Colorado Catholic Conference urges the passage of HB24-1280.