SM 2
Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE HOUSING FIRST TASK
FORCE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS.
WHEREAS, forty-two percent of New Mexico renters pay
more than thirty percent of their income toward rent; and
WHEREAS, twenty-one percent of New Mexico renters pay
more than one-half of their income toward rent, leaving them
vulnerable to homelessness if a crisis occurs; and
WHEREAS, a housing first approach to avoiding and
addressing homelessness has been found effective in reducing
homelessness; and
WHEREAS, a housing first approach gives immediate focus
to finding permanent housing for homeless persons and then
focuses on providing services that keep families from
returning to the streets; and
WHEREAS, a housing first approach recognizes that
permanent, affordable housing is fundamental in resolving the
homelessness crisis and that some persons need supportive
services to stay in housing; and
WHEREAS, the majority of individuals and families who
participate in housing first programs maintain sobriety,
attend work or school, successfully manage their budgets,
permanently end relationships with abusers and keep their
housing long-term; and
pg_0002
SM 2
Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
WHEREAS, social services are more effective when people
are living in their own housing, and investments in
supportive services for vulnerable families and individuals
are, therefore, more sustainable; and
WHEREAS, a housing first approach is more cost-effective
than letting people remain homeless, because people who have
housing are less likely to use emergency rooms; psychiatric
facilities; emergency shelters; and prisons, jails and other
criminal justice agencies; and
WHEREAS, effective discharge planning from institutions,
including psychiatric hospitals, hospitals, foster care and
correctional facilities, depends on an adequate supply of
appropriate housing options in New Mexico communities; and
WHEREAS, a housing first approach can lead to a cost
savings of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) per person in
some communities; and
WHEREAS, an increase in investment in housing is
associated with a decrease in incarceration rates; and
WHEREAS, a significant percentage of people experiencing
homelessness have been incarcerated; and
WHEREAS, many hard-working families cannot afford to pay
for housing and basic necessities, putting them at risk of
homelessness due to rapidly rising land prices, slow wage
growth, declining real wages and increasing construction
costs; and
pg_0003
SM 2
Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
WHEREAS, safe, decent and affordably priced housing
provides a foundation for personal success in school and work
and is, therefore, a prerequisite for the economic success of
New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, adopting a housing first approach in New Mexico
requires a shift in resources from an emergency system that
merely manages the problem of homelessness to a system that
helps vulnerable people gain access to and maintain housing;
and
WHEREAS, the behavioral health purchasing collaborative
will soon complete a supportive housing plan that will
incorporate a housing first approach and that can serve as a
basis for a broader housing first plan; and
WHEREAS, coordinating existing resources and plans can
help to shift the state's focus to a housing first approach;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a housing first task force be
created and charged with the development of a comprehensive
housing first plan for the state of New Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a housing first task force
be chaired and convened by the secretary of children, youth
and families and that it address ways state agencies may
better target and coordinate existing resources and
strategies and collaborate on strategic plans to support a
housing first approach for all people in New Mexico who need
pg_0004
SM 2
Page 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
housing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the housing first plan
include persons with disabilities and with addictions;
persons discharged from prison or other institutions; and
youth and low-income working families in its housing first
focus; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the housing first task force
identify specific goals and an implementation time line,
identify responsible agencies and agents for each
implementation goal and propose relevant action steps and
performance measurements to evaluate progress for each goal;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the housing first task force
be composed of representatives from the governor's and
lieutenant governor's offices, the children, youth and
families department, the human services department, the
public education department, the aging and long-term services
department, the corrections department, the New Mexico
mortgage finance authority, the behavioral health purchasing
collaborative, ValueOptions as the single entity for
behavioral health services, the New Mexico coalition to end
homelessness, the supportive housing coalition of New Mexico,
the drug policy alliance, the women's justice project and
three service providers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the housing first task force
pg_0005
SM 2
Page 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
present a comprehensive plan for implementing a housing first
approach to homelessness to the interim welfare reform
oversight committee by November 1, 2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the secretary of children, youth and families
and to the secretary or director of each of the organizations
named to participate in the task force.