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Colorado city's cost of housing stalls refugee immigration

Colorado city's cost of housing stalls refugee immigration
Posted at 11:49 AM, May 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-06 13:49:42-04

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Experts say a lack of affordable housing in Fort Collins has stalled refugee resettlement.

The Coloradoan reports Thursday that 13 refugees have resettled in Fort Collins since 2002. None have moved to the city since 2012.

As of March 31, 311 refugees had resettled in Colorado this year. Denver, Lakewood, Greeley and Aurora had the most resettlements. Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Iraq and Somalia were the leading countries of origin.

Colorado's State Refugee Coordinator Kit Taintor says the housing market drives where refugees live.

She says Fort Collins' lack of affordable housing coupled with student competition for rentals has significantly limited resettlement options, making matters "really challenging."


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