Xiong, Vang's stepfather, is having the same problems trying to move his family out of the rundown mobile home. Xiong takes care of Vang, his siblings and mother because Vang's father disappeared trying to rescue his grandparents in Laos after saving his own family. Without subsidized housing, it will be difficult for Xiong and his family to stay in Boulder County, Xiong said. Other community leaders say Xiong's fate isn't a lot different from other low-income minorities. Brenda Lyle, executive director of the Family Learning Center, which provides many minority services, including parent counseling and computer training, said these people should be able to afford housing in the county, because many work in service-related jobs that might be left empty if they didn't fill them.
Some minority leaders propose solutions.
Subsidized housing should also be better advertised because many minorities don't know that it's an option, they said. Latino leaders said their community needs better-paying jobs that aren't temporary, with medical insurance and vacation benefits. They said more dentists in Boulder County should accept Medicaid, too. Pete Salas, diversity liaison for Boulder County, said government programs need more bilingual workers. It's not necessarily a fault of the provider, many of whom are trying really hard to meet those staffing needs, but it's a problem across the board.