HOMELESS SERVICES QUESTIONNAIRE
-In brief, what is your vision for how the city should address homelessness, and where would the money to support this come from?
I believe housing and shelter should be treated as shared infrastructure, with every district contributing, not just a few. One option worth exploring is the model at Consuelo’s Place in District 2, where transitional housing is paired with wraparound services like mental health care, case management, and transportation. It’s helped many residents stabilize and move toward permanent housing, and it’s done so without incidents or crime.
As a former CYFD investigator, I’ve seen firsthand how these services make a real difference in people’s lives. Stability doesn’t come from shelter alone, it comes from support.
To avoid overburdening any one area, we should consider multiple shelters and supportive housing sites across the city. Planning must be community-led and done in partnership with the city. Funding could come from a mix of state and federal grants, nonprofit partnerships, and smarter use of city resources. Every district deserves a seat at the table.
-What is your opinion on the city’s current homeless response strategy, including its recent contracts with national nonprofit Urban Alchemy?
I’m optimistic about the city’s current homeless response strategy because it offers short-term relief, though early data looks promising. But I opposed this solution and remain upset about how the city moved forward. The Emergency Homelessness Action Plan was not clearly communicated as temporary, and many residents still believe it’s a permanent fix. That lack of transparency matters.
Residents weren’t invited to help shape the model or choose micro-community locations. Instead, decisions were made behind closed doors, and public input came only after the fact. Recommended tools for civic engagement were not fully used, which undermines trust.
Contracting with Urban Alchemy may offer capacity, but it raises concerns about outsourcing public safety and accountability.
We need to be honest about what this plan is and isn’t. And we must begin planning now for a long-term, community-led solution rooted in housing, behavioral health, and affordability, not just temporary fixes.
-The city currently has a contract with Urban Alchemy for operation of the low-barrier homeless shelter at 2801 Cerrillos Road through July 2026. What should happen to the shelter after that date?
After July 2026, I believe the shelter at 2801 Cerrillos Road should remain a shelter, but with a more focused purpose. This area has seen real concerns from neighbors about safety and loitering, much of it stemming from a lack of transparency and shared planning. To rebuild trust, the city should work with neighborhood residents, nearby businesses, and service providers to guide the next phase of this site.
One option is to focus the shelter exclusively on a small number of transitioning families, those close to securing permanent housing supported by strong wraparound services like case management, housing navigation, and behavioral health care. Keeping the scale modest can help ensure stability and build public confidence.
This site should be part of a broader citywide strategy that spreads responsibility across all districts. We’ve seen success with this kind of approach at Consuelo’s Place when services are well-designed and outcomes are clear, and public support grows.
-The city has significantly fewer shelter beds than homeless residents, but attempts to create additional shelter sites frequently lead to significant pushback from nearby residents concerned about crime, decreases in property values or other issues. How would you navigate this conundrum as an elected official? For city council candidates: Would you be open to supporting additional transitional housing or homeless shelter facilities in your district?
Yes, I support transitional housing and shelter facilities in my district because every part of Santa Fe should help carry the load. District 2 already hosts Consuelo’s Place, a shelter with wraparound services and a strong record of helping people move into permanent housing. Some residents there face substance use challenges, but the model shows that when services are done right, they work, and they don’t bring the problems people fear.
Pushback is real, but it’s often rooted in mistrust. People near Pete’s Place and other sites have raised concerns about crime and safety. When shelters were proposed near Chavez Center or Airport Road, residents packed Council meetings to oppose them. Much of that came from lack of transparency.
To fix this, I propose community-led committees in each district to help identify sites and set fair criteria. When people help shape the solution, they’re more likely to support it. We need to plan with people, not around them.
-The city’s penalties for violating the no-camping ordinance currently include jail time. Do you believe this is appropriate?
I don’t believe jail time is an appropriate response to violating the no-camping ordinance. It doesn’t solve homelessness, it deepens it. Santa Fe already offers alternatives like outreach, shelter referrals, and diversion programs. The city’s Alternative Response Unit sends paramedics and case managers to engage unhoused residents with care, not punishment. Expanding this unit could be a smart investment, strengthening public health, reducing strain on emergency services, and building trust.
Still, enforcement alone, even with options, won’t create long-term solutions. We need to pair it with real housing pathways, behavioral health support, and community-led planning. Residents and businesses deserve clean, safe public spaces, but unhoused people deserve dignity and stability, too.
This issue is complex, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But criminalizing poverty isn’t the way forward. We need to keep listening, adjusting, and investing in solutions that reflect Santa Fe’s values of compassion, equity, and shared responsibility.
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