Denver Program That Pays Homeless People a Monthly Income is Open to Migrants

by Tom Gantert

A program partially-funded by the city of Denver that pays homeless people a regular stipend is eligible to migrants as long as they meet the criteria, according to the city.

The Denver Basic Income Program, which was started in 2021 with the aid of $2 million from the city of Denver, announced it will go at least six months more beginning in February 2024.

The $2 million the city gave Denver Basic Income Project in 2022 was “earmarked for women, families and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals,” according to a city statement to The Center Square. The Denver Basic Income project was open to anyone who met the eligibility requirements. It is funded by public and private money.

The Denver Basic Income Project is the largest program in the country that pays homeless people cash payments. The Denver Basic Income Project has paid more than $6.5 million in direct cash payments to the more than 800 individuals and families that are homeless. The project will now add 39 more people.

Payments range from $50 per month to $1,000 per month as well as a one-time cash transfer of $6,500 in addition to 11 payments of $500 per month, all dependent on how the participants were classified.

The city of Denver has used $4 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to fund the program.

Denver has been targeted by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as a destination for migrants being bused from Texas. Starting in April 2022, Abbott began shipping migrants to Denver. Abbott stated Dec. 20 that buses have transported more than 11,100 migrants to that city.

In January 2023, the city of Denver reported it had 5,818 homeless people. The city started its 2024 count of homeless people on Jan. 23 and hasn’t announced the results as of yet.

– – –

Tom Gantert worked at many daily newspapers including the Ann Arbor News, Lansing State Journal and USA Today. Gantert was the managing editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential for five years before joining The Center Square.