Denver Releases ‘Newcomers Playbook’ to Guide Cities in Welcoming Migrants

The City and County of Denver has released a comprehensive 22-page guide titled “Newcomers Playbook,” which details how to house, feed, clothe, employ, and subsidize migrants in cities across the country. The guide, based on Denver’s experience as a sanctuary jurisdiction, aims to share the city’s “success” with other municipalities.

The Playbook offers a step-by-step approach to creating a welcoming environment for migrants, referred to as “newcomers” in the guide. It covers topics such as establishing migrant intake centers, providing efficient transportation, setting up budgets, assigning case workers, and locating funding sources.

Denver’s guide also includes a checklist of “guest-related” questions for administrators to consider, such as providing showers and laundry services, ensuring adequate staff and communication infrastructure, and making resources available to assist migrants in their journey.

The Playbook even suggests workarounds for migrants’ lack of Social Security numbers when renting apartments, advising city officials to enter a fake SSN or look for alternative housing options if landlords insist on a valid number.

Since December 2022, nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Denver, costing the city over $42 million. The influx has led to housing shortages, public encampments, increased school costs, and a rise in uncompensated care at local hospitals. Despite these challenges, Denver encourages other cities to follow its lead in supporting migrants with public dollars and effort on a large scale.