Colorado Prepares To Welcome Refugees Fleeing Crisis
DENVER (CBS4)- More than 50,000 refugees from all over the world have called Colorado home over the past 35 years.
With the recent crisis showcasing how many people are fleeing Syria and other Middle East countries, Colorado is preparing to help its next round.
"We have a booming economy we have welcoming communities and we have broad based support through our social systems," said Kit Taintor, the State Refugee Coordinator with the Colorado Refugee Services Program under the Department of Human Services. "We've seen populations from Vietnam, Bosnia, and Rwanda over the years. We've traditionally resettled some of the most vulnerable populations and that will include the Syrians as the crisis continues."
The Federal Government screens and sets the amount of refugees that will be allowed legally into the country. The past few years has seen 70,000 refugees come to America. That number is estimated to rise to 75,000 from across the globe for 2016. Colorado traditionally takes two percent of the Nation's refugees.
"The United Nations, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, all of these agencies have a roll to ensure health screenings, to ensure security screenings and to ensure that people are set up for success when they get here to Colorado," Taintor said. "We're busy planning for the incoming populations which could include Syrians so we're busy making sure we have the supports particularly the Syrians are going to need."
CRSP works with local communities to integrate refugees into the community providing job training, English classes, and housing.
"These are people who are fleeing for their lives and have lost hope in some ways to return home," Taintor said.
One volunteer organization that works with the state, African Community Center, has already set up a donation campaign and is looking for volunteers to help new refugees.
Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.
