Casa de Paz

A nonprofit organization

$3,513 raised by 30 donors

5% complete

$75,000 Goal

WHO ARE WE?

At Casa de Paz, we're building longer tables together. Casa de Paz welcomes recently released newcomers, Asylum seekers, and immigrants; we facilitate their next steps towards reunifications with loved ones in a dignifying way. At Casa de Paz, our role in family reunification looks different. Monday through Friday, people are released from the GEO immigrant detention center directly onto the street, with no more than the items they were detained with. For most folks, this means only their necessary paperwork and the clothing on their backs. By offering the immediate resources necessary for travel post detention, Casa de Paz supports people in taking their first steps towards their final destination– a safe location with loved ones. 

The Welcome Team

The members of our welcome team are usually the first people that folks will interact with upon being released from immigration detention. Staff and volunteers in this role ensure a warm initial welcome and continue to work alongside folks providing logistical support that helps them reach their next destination, which could be anywhere in the US. This often means communicating with family members, assisting with booking tickets, and ensuring that people have necessary items such as toiletries, phone chargers, shoelaces, a warm meal / snacks, and more. Once the day has wrapped up and travel arrangements are made, Casa de Paz provides people with transportation to the airport or greyhound station. 

We meet a very specific need for a very wonderful set of individuals. 

In 2023, we welcomed over 4,400 people from over 63 different countries. This year we have welcomed over 1,750 people from over 67 countries! Since 2012, we have welcomed over 20,000 people from over 83 different countries. 

Cartas de Paz

Casa de Paz also attempts to ease the isolation brought by immigration detention before release. Through our Cartas de Paz letter writing program, volunteers are paired with people in immigration detention centers across the US who have requested a buddy to write to. This program is even more vital now, as with calls in detention no longer being free, people feel alone. This program connects people. 

Since December of 2021, our volunteers have written to over 1,600 people from over 34 countries, from over 55 detention centers. 

Through this program we have also been able to provide people in detention with over $40,000 in commissary. Through commissary, people are able to afford things like a cup of noodles, a decent toothbrush, toothpaste, and other things we consider daily items.

Visitation

While our Cartas program aims to ease isolation through letter writing, our visitation program aims to ease isolation through face to face conversation. Volunteers in this program spend an hour visiting folks in detention. This is an opportunity for them to have others to talk to and be outside of their usual routine and the same walls. Post pandemic, we are back to visiting folks on the weekends and we continue to seek volunteers. People are often detained for months, even years. Many don't get to fight for their immigration cases outside of detention and must remain detained the entire time. The visitation program attempts to lessen the loneliness.


We kindly ask that you consider donating to Casa de Paz and helping us meet our $75,000 goal. This is necessary due to the higher number of releases in the last three years. We are the only organization in Colorado that does this type of work.

Thank you!

Giving Activity

Mission

Reunite families separated by immigrant detention, one simple act of love at a time.

Background Statement

Casa de Paz (Casa) is a nonprofit organization located in Aurora, CO. Our goal is to assist folks upon being released from the immigrant detention center in Aurora & ease the isolation that immigrant detention brings.

Casa de Paz began in a one bedroom apartment back in 2012. Casa de Paz is now a ten minute walk from the detention center where folks have a safe space to make arrangements to make it onto their next destination. During our first 9 years we welcomed a little over 3,300 guests. In the last three years, we have welcomed nearly over 17,000 guests from over 82 countries released from immigrant detention.

Casa de Paz is the only organization in Colorado to do this work and we do it with pride. 67% of individuals in detention have no criminal record and are simply seeking asylum.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Casa de Paz

other names

Casa de Paz Colorado

Year Established

2012

Tax id (EIN)

81-2239384

Category

Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

PO Box 111351
Aurora, CO 80042

Service areas

Adams County, CO, US

Phone

720-515-6732

Social Media