Rose Community Foundation partnered with Governor Polis to host the Colorado Afghan Evacuee Support Fund, helping to ensure that Colorado is prepared to welcome Afghan evacuees and connect them with community resources. Contributions funded grants to organizations in Colorado providing essential services for evacuees, including resettlement assistance, health and mental health support and legal services to help evacuees navigate available pathways for permanency in the U.S.
The Impact
Over 3,000 Afghan evacuees have arrived in Colorado since August 2021. The vast majority of evacuees are on humanitarian parole. Congress granted these individuals eligibility for refugee and other federal benefits in October 2021, but parole is a temporary legal status and needs outstrip resources and the current capacity of partners. In evaluating available state and federal resources, the state of Colorado identified areas of need that are currently not accounted for in other efforts.
Grant Recipients
Grants supported organizations working to welcome Afghan evacuees, connect newcomers to critical community resources, and ensure evacuees can thrive in Colorado. Grant recipients included:
Resettlement agencies:
- ECDC African Community Center of Denver
- International Rescue Committee Denver
- Jewish Family Service of Colorado
- Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains
- Project Worthmore
Mental health services:
- Adams Twelve Five Star School District
- Asian Pacific Development Center of Colorado
- Aurora Mental Health Center
- Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Program (Anschutz Campus), University of Colorado Foundation
- Jewish Family Service of Colorado
- Muslim Youth for Positive Impact
- The Trauma and Disaster Recovery Clinic, University of Denver
- Violence Free Colorado
- Women’s Wilderness
Legal services:
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver
- International Rescue Committee Denver Afghan Parolee Legal Resource Center
- Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Support the Work
The Colorado Afghan Evacuee Support Fund is no longer accepting donations, but individuals who would like to support Rose Community Foundation’s work with immigrants and refugees can learn more about the Newcomers Fund.
