Public Square; 302; Preventing Family Homelessness

>> FUNDING FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC SQUARE PROVIDED BY THEW.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN >> WE HAVE NURSES, WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE HOMELESS. THE FACE OF HOMELESSNESS REALLY HASN'T CHANGED. I THINK IT'S JUST REVEALING ITSELF IN A MORE CLEAR WAY. >> MOST OF US SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE ARE PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS FROM HOMELESSNESS. >> ONE MOTHER WHO CALLED TO ENROLL A CHILD IN OUR PROGRAM, THEY'VE BEEN LIVING OUT OF A VAN AND IS AT THE END OF HER ROPE. >> WE SEE 35-40 WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVERY NIGHT, AND EVERY WEEK WE MAY HAVE FOUR OPENINGS, AND WE GET 25 CALLS A DAY. >> I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND I'M LIKE, DO I REALLY HAVE FIVE KIDS? LIKE, REALLY? WHAT WAS I THINKING? BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE UNDER SO MUCH STRESS, AND AFTER YOU STRUGGLE SO MUCH, YOU'RE LIKE, WHO CARES. >> IT'S REALLY AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY

TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T HOMELESS. >> WE CAN SHOW THAT IF WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS ON PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW WORK, WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> SO WHERE DO WE NEED TO BE SPENDING THE DOLLARS? >> WELCOME TO PUBLIC SQUARE, WHERE CIVIC DIALOGUE TAKES CENTER STAGE. >> I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WALKING AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES, BECAUSE THE OPTION IS HOMELESSNESS. THE STREET. SO I'D RATHER SEE SOMEONE LIVING ILLEGALLY IN THEIR HOME -- SORRY BANKERS -- BUT I REALLY WOULD, THAN TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY OUT ON THE STREETS. >> TODAY WE EXPLORE HOMELESSNESS AND ITS EFFECT ON FAMILIES. THE HOUSING AND FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT BEGAN IN 2008 CONTINUES TO IMPACT FAMILIES TO EMERGE FROM THE RECESSION. MORE THAN 16,000 NEW MEXICAN CHILDREN ARE HOMELESS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SUFFER FROM HUNGER AND POOR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH. THEY ALSO HAVE LIMITED ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY.

THE STRESS AND TRAUMA OF BEING HOMELESS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN. WE'LL HEAR FROM PARENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS PROVIDERS AND ADVOCATES WORKING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. AFTER THAT, WE'LL EXPLORE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROVIDE MORE FAMILIES WITH SECURE LIVING OPPORTUNITIES. JOINING THE CONVERSATION ARE SENATORS TIM KELLER AND JOHN RYAN, AND ROBIN DOZIER OTTEN, DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. BEFORE WE GET STARTED, HERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON OUR TOPIC. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A LARGE ISSUE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK OFTEN FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. >> FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ACCOUNT FOR ONE-THIRD OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN NEW MEXICO, THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT. BUT THEY ARE OFTEN UNDER THE RADAR MOVING BETWEEN RELATIVES OR FRIENDS, STAYING IN MOTELS OR EVEN THEIR CARS, KEEPING OUGHT OF SIGHT.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S RECENT OR NEW THAT SO MANY FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE'S A REAL UNDERSTANDING THAT SO MANY FAMILIES ARE HOMELESS. NUMBER OF HOMELESS CHILDREN HAS RISEN FROM LESS THAN 10,000 TO MORE THAN 16,000 IN NEW MEXICO. THE HOUSING CRISIS HAS ACCELERATED THIS TREND. >> THERE'S AN INVISIBLE VICTIM HERE THAT'S NOT GETTING FACTORED INTO THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS, AND I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE START TALKING ABOUT HOW FORECLOSURE IMPACTS CHILDREN. >> CHILDREN EXPERIENCE TRAUMA FROM THE UNSETTLEDNESS OF MOVING AROUND AND NOT KNOWING FOR SURE, AM I GOING TO HAVE FOOD TONIGHT. THEY PICK UP THE STRESSES THAT THE PARENTS CARRY WITH THEM. >> CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TO GO HUNGRY. THEY'RE MORE PRONE TO DELAYED DEVELOPMENT. ONE-THIRD WILL REPEAT A AND FEWER THAN 25% WILL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. >> CHILDREN CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES, AND SO IT'S

INCUMBENT UPON US, AS PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE HAVE BIG TROUBLES AHEAD. >> MORE HOMELESSNESS ALSO MEANS MUCH GREATER COSTS ON MANY LEVELS. THE SERVICES NEEDED TO HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES REQUIRE MORE FUNDING THAN PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> I THINK IF WE DON'T HAVE MORE SHELTERS AND EDUCATION AND RESOURCES, THAT WE'RE ALL JUST GOING TO TURN INTO ANGRY PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WILL START TAKING FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING HARD BECAUSE THEY FEEL DOWN AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HOPE. >> I WANT FOLKS TO REALIZE THAT WE ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO SOLVE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS, THAT WE ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO END IT. THE REAL CHALLENGE IS BUILDING THE POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY WILL TO DO THAT. >> I WANT TO START WITH SOME OF OUR GUESTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, AND TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU'D BE HOMELESS.

>> THE FIRST TIME I BECAME THINK I WAS 22 OR 23, AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A SHELTER WAS BEFORE THAT AGE, AND I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE HOMELESS. I GOT IN A SITUATION THAT WASN'T A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP, GOT PREGNANT, AND MY MOM, SHE BASICALLY STOPPED SUPPORTING ME, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO. >> ANGELICA, YOU HAVE KIDS. WHAT WERE YOUR OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, TO FIND A PLACE TO BE SAFE, TO TAKE THEM? LIKE OFF AND ON WITH MY BOYFRIEND, WHO'S BEEN ABUSIVE WITH ME. SORRY. AND THAT'S WHY I'M LIVING IN A SHELTER WITH MY TWO KIDS, BEING SAFE THERE. AND IT WAS A SHOCK FOR ME TO BE HOMELESS AND STUFF. I'D NEVER BEEN HOMELESS. MY MOM, SHE TURNED HER BACK ON ME, SO I'M THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M HAPPY TO BE THERE. AND I HOPE I GET A PLACE FOR ME AND MY KIDS. >> STEPHANIE, YOU HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION. YOU ENDED UP HOMELESS BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH YOUR KIDS. WHAT KIND OF OPTIONS WERE THERE WHEN YOU STARTED TRYING TO FIND A PLACE? >> IT'S VERY HARD, BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS I IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIP, BUT MY FAMILY IS VIOLENT. WE TALK TO EACH OTHER VIOLENT. WE SOLVE PROBLEMS VIOLENTLY. IT'S HARD TO CHANGE THAT. AND I HAVE FIVE GIRLS. I JUST LOOK AT MY LITTLE GIRLS AND I'M LIKE, THEY'RE GROWING UP, SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. I DON'T WANT THEM TO GROW UP LIKE ME. I HAD BEEN IN A SAFE HOUSE SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS 21, AND I KNEW THAT I NEEDED A CHANGE THEN AND I NEEDED TO GET AWAY FROM THEIR FATHER, BUT I DIDN'T RELY ON SAFE HOUSE LIKE I DID THIS TIME. I WENT TO THE COUNSELING, AND I FOUND OUT THERE'S MORE DEEP ISSUES THAN WHAT I WAS GIVING CREDIT TO.

FOR A YEAR, AND THE EFFECTS LACK OF EDUCATION IS JUST SO -- IT'S SO SAD TO SEE MY KIDS, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON COMMUNICATION. I TALK TO THEM, AND THEY'VE SEEN THE VIOLENCE BETWEEN ME AND THEIR DAD, AND SO THEY COMMUNICATE THAT WAY. TRYING TO CHANGE MYSELF AND TRYING TO CHANGE FIVE OTHERS IS JUST SO HARD, AND IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THEM UPSET. LIKE MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD, SHE HAS SO MANY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, AND IT'S HARD. IT'S HARD TO SEE, THIS IS WHAT I DID. THIS IS WHAT I DID TO MY CHILDREN. BUT THAT'S WHAT HOLDS YOU DOWN. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, IT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO. >> MATILDA, YOU WERE ALSO IN A PLACE WHERE YOU NEEDED HOUSING. YOU WERE GETTING A MASTER'S DEGREE; RIGHT? >> UH-HUH. >> AND YOU HAD TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME AND YOU HAD TO DO AN INTERNSHIP, AND THAT MEANT GIVING UP SOME INCOME, AND YOU LOST YOUR

APARTMENT. >> YES. >> YOU HAVE TWO BOYS. SO, WHAT DID YOU DO? HOW DID YOU FIND HELP? >> WHEN MY INTERNSHIP CAME UP, I HAD TO BASICALLY SAY, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT, AND WHICH ONE IS GOING TO BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO ME AND MY FAMILY. SO THEREFORE, I WENT AHEAD AND PURSUED THE INTERNSHIP. I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE IT IN JUNE -- >> YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE? >> YES, IN REHABILITATION COUNSELING. AND I HAVE A JOB NOW. TOMORROW IS MY FIRST DAY. >> GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. WITH A COUNSELING AGENCY. AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. I MEAN, SIX YEARS. I WAS SO DETERMINED, AND I MEAN, I HAD TO WORK WITH AND I THINK WITH SHEER DETERMINATION AND A GOAL, AND EVEN A SMALL VISION, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, AND JUST KEEP GOING. >> HOW ARE THE REST OF YOUR KIDS DOING IN SCHOOL? I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD.

WERE YOU ABLE TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR OLD SCHOOLS, OR DID THEY GO TO NEW SCHOOLS? OR HOW DID THAT WORK WHEN YOU'RE KIND OF IN A SHELTER SITUATION? >> WELL, MY CASE MANAGER AT THE SHELTER, SHE TOLD ME ABOUT CUIDANDO LOS NINOS, AND IT'S THE BEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND MY CHILDREN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S KEPT ME UNSTABLE, BECAUSE I NEVER HAD SUPPORT FOR MY CHILDREN AND I WOULD ALWAYS GO BACK TO MY CHILDREN'S DAD. IT WAS JUST A CYCLE OF, YOU KNOW, HE WOULDN'T WANT ME TO GET A JOB, QUIT A JOB, AND I WAS NEVER ABLE TO FINISH SCHOOL, GET AN EDUCATION. AND I'M ONLY A YEAR AWAY FROM A BACHELOR'S DEGREE. FOR THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY FEEL, WITH CUIDANDO LOS NINOS, I CAN DO THAT. IT'S GREAT. >> ANGELA, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUIDANDO SO MUCH, AND YOU'RE THE DIRECTOR, ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY SERVED 7100 HOMELESS CHILDREN JUST IN THE LAST YEAR. THAT'S JUST APS. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS ON

CHILDREN? YOU SEE THESE KIDS EVERY DAY. >> WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INSECURITIES, MISTRUST THAT ARE BUILDING UP, AND NOT VIOLENCE, BUT IN OTHER WAYS DO THEY EXPERIENCE VARYING DEGREES OF TRAUMA. SO A PART OF WHAT IS AT ISSUE HERE IS HOW RESILIENT CAN WE HELP THESE CHILDREN BECOME TO BE IN SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THEY'RE IN, AS WELL AS TO DEVELOP MORE FULLY PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY. >> SO IT'S ABOUT TEACHING RESILIENCY SKILLS? >> THAT'S A PART OF IT FOR ME. >> ARE WE SEEING DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO SEEK HOMELESS SERVICES NOW? >> WE CERTAINLY ARE. WE SEE FOLKS THAT ARE GRABBING A MEAL AT OUR DAY SHELTER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FOOD INSECURE. THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND SUPPORT SERVICES TO JUST GET THEM BY WHILE THEY'RE OUT THERE POUNDING THE PAVEMENT, TRYING TO FIND A JOB. AND USING OUR EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES, AS WELL. >> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FOLKS REALLY HAVE A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHO THE HOMELESS REALLY ARE. AT THE BARRETT HOUSE SHELTER, WE HAVE NURSES, WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE SO I THINK THAT THE FACE OF HOMELESSNESS REALLY HASN'T CHANGED. I THINK IT'S JUST REVEALING ITSELF IN A MORE CLEAR WAY. >> AT FAMILY PROMISE, TOO, WE SEE A LOT OF COUPLES THAT COME IN, AND FOR AN AVERAGE NEED TO BE MAKING LIKE $13 AN HOUR TO AFFORD THAT APARTMENT, PER MONTH. WELL, IF ONE OF THEM IS WORKING A JOB THAT'S $10 AN HOUR, AND THEY'RE BOTH WORKING, THEY'RE GOING FINE. BUT IF ONE OF THEM LOSES THEIR JOB, THEN THEY'RE EVICTED. >> OR IF THEIR HOURS ARE CUT. >> RIGHT, OR IF THEIR HOURS ARE CUT. >> MOST FAMILIES PROBABLY SPEND WELL BEYOND 30% OF THEIR INCOME FOR HOUSING, AND THE RULE OF THUMB IS THAT 30%. BUT I THINK THAT WITH A

DECLINING ECONOMY, IT'S BECOME MORE AND MORE PREVALENT AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON. OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED IN A LOT OF WAYS. WHEN YOU FELL ON HARD TIMES, YOU WERE ABLE TO GO WITH FAMILY, AND YOU DIDN'T JUST PERSON. BUT WE HAVE SUCH A MOBILE SOCIETY NOW THAT FAMILIES, IF YOU'RE LIVING IN ALBUQUERQUE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM HERE, YOU ARE LITERALLY THREE MONTHS FROM HOMELESSNESS IF YOU OWN A HOME, BECAUSE IN THREE MONTHS YOU CAN GET SERVED FORECLOSURE NOTICE AND BE EVICTED, OR ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A JUDICIAL PROCESS TO KEEP YOUR HOME, WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, YOU'RE QUICKLY OUT OF YOUR HOME. SO MOST PEOPLE, MOST OF US SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE, ARE PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS FROM HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE IT'S JUST WHAT DICTATES TODAY, AND WHAT IT COSTS TO LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. HOUSING IS NOT CHEAP IN ALBUQUERQUE. IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE. THIS ISSUE OF FORECLOSURE IS ALSO -- PEOPLE THINK IT'S JUST HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY IT.

RENTERS ARE IMPACTED BY IT, AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT OWN RENTAL PROPERTY, AND THEY'RE FALLING ON HARD TIMES, AND THEY'RE LOSING THEIR RENTAL PROPERTIES TO FORECLOSURE. AND PRIOR TO, I BELIEVE -- IN 1999, A LAW WENT ON THE BOOKS THAT GAVE MORE PROTECTION TO RENTERS THAT ARE BEING EVICTED DUE TO FORECLOSURE, BECAUSE THEIR LANDLORDS WOULD SAY, YOU'VE GOT TO GO, OR THE OWNERS WOULD SAY, YOU'VE GOT TO GO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO. YOU HAVE PROTECTIONS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TALK TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT HOTLINE IF THAT HAPPENS TO YOU, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT JUST PUT YOU OUT OF YOUR HOME. AND I TELL PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING FORECLOSURE ON THEIR HOME, IF THEY OWN THEIR HOME, DON'T GET SCARED OUT OF YOUR HOME. I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO STICK THERE AND HANG IN THERE AS LONG AS YOU CAN, AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET SOME HELP OUT THERE, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S -- I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WALKING AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THE OPTION IS HOMELESSNESS. THE STREETS. I WOULD RATHER SEE SOMEONE LIVING ILLEGALLY IN THEIR HOME -- SORRY BANKERS -- BUT I REALLY WOULD, THAN TO SEE

OUR COMMUNITY OUT ON THE STREETS, BECAUSE THE RATES OF FORECLOSURE ARE GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER IN THE CITY AND IN THE STATE. >> CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS A COUPLE OF HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND ONE OF THEM IS RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IF YOU CAN GET RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THAT'S OFTEN THE LAST THING BEFORE YOU BECOME HOMELESS. >> YES. THE AMOUNT OF NEED FOR THAT PROGRAM IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE RECEIVE ANYWHERE FROM 75 TO 100 CALLS DAILY. >> SAYING, I CAN'T MAKE MY RENT? >> YES, I CAN'T MAKE MY RENT, AND THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF REASONS. IT COULD BE HOURS CUT, IT BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS AN ILLNESS; SOMEONE GOT SICK, THEY MISSED A WEEK OF WORK, AND NOW THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SICK TIME OR VACATION TIME. SO WHEN THEY ARE SICK FOR A WEEK, THAT'S IT. CAR REPAIR. ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. AND WE ENDED UP, WITH THAT PROGRAM, SERVING A LITTLE UNDER 500 HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH IS AWESOME. BUT THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY SO FAR EXCEEDED THAT.

THAT, YOU KNOW, IS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET, AND THAT'S SCARY. >> WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE NOW? >> WE HAVE FUNDS FOR A PROGRAM CALLED RAP, WHICH IS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. IT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE NEW MEXICO MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY. BUT THOSE FUNDS, THERE'S ABOUT $140,000 AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE. COMPARE THAT TO THE HOMELESS PREVENTION AND RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE ABOUT $2.5 MILLION. SO IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. >> WERE THOSE STIMULUS FUNDS? >> YES, THOSE ARE FROM THE STIMULUS FUNDS. >> ONE-TIME FUNDS. >> SO WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE. IT BREAKS DOWN THAT WE PROVIDE, SAY, AN AVERAGE OF SIX MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO ABOUT 40 TO 50 HOUSEHOLDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE GRANT YEAR. THAT'S IT. AND WHAT'S FRIGHTENING ABOUT THAT IS EVERY MONTH, WE HAVE THE FIRST TWO DAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL TO INQUIRE ABOUT ASSISTANCE, AND THAT'S WHEN WE DO THE PHONE SCREENS. AND BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND

TODAY, WE GOT 175 PHONE CALLS FOR THAT PROGRAM, AND THAT COVERS BERNALILLO AND SANDOVAL COUNTY. AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS. >> I THINK ONE OF THE REAL GAPS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS AROUND PREVENTION FUNDING. SO THIS POT OF MONEY THAT WE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THIS HOMELESS PREVENTION AND RAPID REHOUSING FUND, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST POT OF EVER GOTTEN IN NEW MEXICO. AND WHAT WAS EXCITING ABOUT THAT, IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO SERVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN SERVED, IS WE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO BUILD A MODEL PREVENTION PROGRAM. SO WE NOW HAVE REALLY THE DATA TO SHOW THAT WE KNOW THAT PREVENTION WORKS AND WE CAN PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. BUT NOW THAT THE STIMULUS FUNDS HAVE GONE AWAY, WE'RE KIND OF BACK LARGELY TO THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE WERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE THERE'S A HUGE GAP FOR THESE TYPES OF SERVICES. >> 85% OF THOSE WHO EXITED THE PROGRAM, EXITED STABLE. THE PROGRAM, ITSELF, OFFERED NOT JUST RENTAL ASSISTANCE,

BUT ALSO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. >> WHAT ARE THOSE? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? >> CASE MANAGEMENT. WE HAD SOME JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE. WE PROVIDED LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION, SO THEY CAN TAKE A BUDGETING CLASS. A LOT OF JOB DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON APPLYING FOR JOBS, WORKING ON RESUMES. WE HAD MOCK INTERVIEW CLASSES. >> MICHAEL, YOU'RE DOING RAPID REHOUSING AT BARRETT FOUNDATION, AM I RIGHT? >> WE JUST STARTED. >> YOU JUST STARTED IT? OKAY. NOW, IS THIS LIKE A NEW POT OF MONEY, OR ARE YOU SHIFTING HOW YOU'RE USING YOUR MONEY? WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? >> THIS WAS AN INCREASE IN FUNDING TO THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WHICH WAS THEN PASSED ALONG TO BARRETT TO ESSENTIALLY PILOT A SHELTER-BASED RAPID REHOUSING. OUR GOAL IS TO MOVE WOMEN STABLE HOUSING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE KNOW THAT ONCE A WOMAN AND HER KIDS ARE HOUSED, THAT THEY'RE SAFE, THEY'RE SECURE, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO

PROVIDE, OR BE PROVIDED THE KINDS OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO STAY HOUSED. IT'S LESS THAN $100,000. >> DO WE NEED MORE SHELTERS, OR DO WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON HOUSING, LIKE THE RAPID REHOUSING? DO YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS? >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY LEARNING IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, IS THAT SHELTERS PLAY A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, PARTICULARLY FOR FAMILIES, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN TO STAY. BUT SHELTERS, IN AND OF THEMSELVES, DO NOT END HOMELESSNESS. IF YOU LIVE IN A SHELTER, YOU'RE STILL HOMELESS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT SHELTERS ARE JUST INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE. THEY USE A LOT OF RESOURCES, SO THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. ONE OF THE EMERGING MODELS THAT MICHAEL IS TALKING

ABOUT, AND THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS WORKED ON, TOO, IS RAPID REHOUSING, WHICH IS YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE YOUR SHELTERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE, THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK, BUT BY USING THE RAPID REHOUSING MODEL, FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO EXIT THE SHELTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE INTO THEIR OWN HOUSING. AND THE OTHER ADVANTAGE OF THAT IS THAT IT OPENS UP THE BED FOR ANOTHER FAMILY THAT NEEDS IT. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT, JEN? I KNOW YOU OPERATE A SHELTER. >> YEAH, I DO THINK YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN ALL THE STAGES, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS GREAT TO HAVE REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE THE SHELTERS AVAILABLE, THE BEDS AVAILABLE SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE CALL AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M SLEEPING IN MY CAR, IT'S REALLY COLD OUTSIDE, WITH MY THREE KIDS, AND I NEED A PLACE TO BE, SO THAT THERE IS SPACE. AND SO WITH FAMILY PROMISE, OUR SHELTER MODEL IS A LITTLE BIT LESS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE PARTNER WITH CONGREGATIONS AROUND THE CITY. SO IT'S A COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL. WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A BUILDING, WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES THAT ARE PROVIDING SPACE IN THEIR

CONGREGATION. SO THEY PROVIDE THE MEALS, AND THEY PROVIDE THE OVERNIGHT SPACE, AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TO MAINTAIN A DAY CENTER WITH A COUPLE OF STAFF. SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT AT ABOUT HALF THE COST OF A NORMAL SHELTER. >> WHAT'S THE CAPACITY? HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU HANDLE? >> 14 AT ONE TIME. SO IT'S THREE FAMILIES AT A TIME, 25 FAMILIES A YEAR, PRETTY MUCH. BUT IF WE CAN GET THEM THROUGH FASTER, THEN WE CAN INCREASE. >> IN THE IDEAL WORLD, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IF WE GOT UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY COMING INTO NEW MEXICO -- >> WHO WOULDN'T LIKE THAT. >> -- WE WOULD PUT SOME TOWARDS A SHELTER, BUT MORE TOWARDS GETTING HOUSING FOR FAMILIES. WE SEE 35-40 WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVERY NIGHT, AND EVERY WEEK WE MAY HAVE FOUR OPENINGS AND WE GET 25 CALLS A DAY FROM FAMILIES LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO BE. >> CAN I ASK SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN HERE WHO'VE

EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, WERE THERE TIMES YOU COULDN'T GET A BED? DID THAT HAPPEN? WHAT DID YOU DO >> WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, MY COUSIN SAID I COULD STAY, AND I HAD CALLED THE SAFE HOUSE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE STAYING WITH HER. AND THEN IT GOT OVERWHELMING WITH THE KIDS, SO THEN I WENT TO MY AUNTIE'S IN LOS LUNAS, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR, SO I DIDN'T SEE HOW I COULD GET ON MY FEET. SO I KEPT CALLING AND CALLING. AND THEN I ALSO CALLED BARRETT HOUSE, BUT THEY DON'T DEAL WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SO I DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPTION. AND THEN FINALLY, I CALLED ONE DAY AND THEY FINALLY LET ME IN. AND IT WAS HARD, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. >> ANGELICA? >> ACTUALLY, THE COPS TOOK ME OVER THERE, BECAUSE I GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH MY BOYFRIEND, AND WHEN THE COPS GOT THERE, I MEAN, THAT'S WHEN THEY TOOK ME TO THE SHELTER. >> I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I THINK A LOT OF PROVIDERS FACE, OR THE

COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE GOING TO BE PUT IN HOUSING, YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF A PROGRAM. SO YOU'RE EITHER GETTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AND SO HOUSING IS ATTACHED TO THAT PROGRAM. >> WHY IS THAT? DO THEY JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT FUNDED? >> PART OF IT THAT, ABSOLUTELY. LIKE THE ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME INITIATIVE, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT, YOU HAVE TO BE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN IDENTIFIABLE ISSUES BEFORE YOU CAN BE A PART OF THAT. >> YOU LEARN A LOT FROM YOUR REGULAR -- IF YOU'RE A HOMELESS FAMILY AND YOU ISSUE, YOU DON'T HAVE A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THERE'S NOT A LOT. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY SO WONDERFUL WITH THAT HOMELESS PREVENTION AND RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, IS THAT IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT -- THERE WASN'T ANY REQUIREMENT THAT YOU FIT INTO ANYTHING. YOU JUST HAD TO BE STRUGGLING TO PAY THE RENT. >> AND AS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE MOTHER WHO CALLED TO ENROLL A CHILD IN OUR PROGRAM, SHE

HASN'T BEEN IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, SO THERE WASN'T ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSE THERE. AND AS YOU'RE HEARING, OTHER BEDS ARE CLOSED. SO THEY'VE BEEN LIVING OUT OF A VAN THAT ALTERNATELY HAS A BATTERY THAT GOES GAS. INVISIBLE ON THE STREETS, BUT EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS SOMEBODY REPORTS THEM AND THEY GET -- THEY EITHER HAVE TO MOVE, OR GET STOPPED AND TOLD BY THE POLICE TO MOVE ON. THEY'RE NOT SECURE. THEY CAN'T LOCK ONE OF THE DOORS. SO EVERYTHING THAT THE FAMILY OWNS IS IN THE VAN, AND HALF OF IT HAS ALREADY BEEN STOLEN. YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO MONTHS NOW, AND IS AT THE END OF HER ROPE. >> WHAT SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY? SHOULD THERE BE A CENTRAL INTAKE? IS IT GETTING MORE RESOURCES, OR IS IT REALLOCATING WHAT WE HAVE, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY THESE DAYS? WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO REALLY SOLVE THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE UNTIL WE INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR MEAN AN INCREASE IN INVESTMENT, I BELIEVE, AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES. BUT I THINK, ALSO, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF HELPING A FAMILY THAT'S HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, GET INTO THEIR APARTMENT AND THEN IT'S LIKE, OKAY, GOOD LUCK GUYS, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER. A LOT OF FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, NEED SUPPORT AND HELP TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND TO -- >> WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT SERVICES, VICKY? >> MAYBE THESE LADIES CAN TALK ABOUT THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL FOR YOU GUYS. >> I CAN TALK ALL DAY ABOUT THE CHILD CARE AND THE PRESCHOOL FOR MY CHILDREN. THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING. WITHOUT THAT, I WOULD NOT BE FOR THE FIRST TIME I

ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE I CAN ACTUALLY FINISH SCHOOL AND CONCENTRATE, BECAUSE OF THAT. >> IT'S HARD TO GO TO SCHOOL, IT'S HARD TO GO LOOK FOR A JOB WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN ATTACHED TO YOUR HIP. >> EXACTLY. I HAVE AN EIGHT-MONTH-OLD AND A FIVE-YEAR-OLD WHO HAS AD/HD, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO CONCENTRATE. >> AND EMPLOYERS PROBABLY ARE LIKE, ARE YOU GOING TO BRING YOUR KIDS WITH YOU? >> YEAH. >> EMPLOYMENT SERVICES IS NEEDED. THEY SHUT DOWN THE STATUS OF WOMEN, WHICH WAS A STATE-OPERATED AGENCY, AND I MISS THEM DEARLY. YOU KNOW, DURING THE TIME, I KNOW A LOT OF WOMEN WENT THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN FAX YOUR APPLICATIONS, AND ALSO YOU CAN PRINT OUT YOUR RESUMES. >> THIS IS THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN? >> YES. >> AND THEY OFFERED SERVICES TO WOMEN WHO WERE IN JOB SEARCH? >> YES. I BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MY JOB SEARCH. >> SO YOU THINK IT'S A FUNDING ISSUE AT THE STATE LEGAL, THE LOCAL LEVEL? >> ALL OVER. >> REALLY, I THINK THE COMMITMENT HAS TO BE THERE

AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. AND I'M NOT SAYING, EITHER, THAT IT'S JUST A GOVERNMENT PROBLEM TO SOLVE. I THINK IT'S REALLY A COMMUNITY PROBLEM THAT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN ENDING HOMELESSNESS. >> HOUSING JUST DID NOT HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT DEEP SUBSIDIES. THAT'S HOW WE CREATED THE WHITE MIDDLE CLASS IN THIS COUNTRY, WAS THROUGH THE FEDERAL HOUSING SUBSIDIES THAT WE GAVE TO PEOPLE. SO THAT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT FOR US, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE TO PROVIDE HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY. I ALSO THINK FROM A POLICY LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO START THINKING CREATIVELY. THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSING STOCK OUT HERE BECAUSE OF THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSES SITTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS EMPTY, AND RIGHT DOWN THE STREET THERE'S A HOMELESS FAMILY. IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY THESE TWO CANNOT BE CONNECTED, TO ME. AND IT'S BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, THE HOUSING THAT'S FORECLOSED UPON IS OWNED BY BANKS.

THEY'RE NOT SELLING THESE PROPERTIES TO OTHER PEOPLE, INVESTORS, BY AND LARGE. THE BANKS, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE BUYING THESE PROPERTIES BACK AND THEY'RE HOLDING THESE PROPERTIES. SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT WHERE BANKS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY? WHY AREN'T WE TAKING THOSE PROPERTIES, AND NOT THE PROPERTIES OUT ON THE FRINGE, BECAUSE AS THIS WOMAN SAID, TO MOVE HER TO LOS LUNAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE, WHAT RESOURCES DOES SHE HAVE TO GET BETTER, TO GET ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES? I WOULD SAY THAT THE BANKERS IN THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE MAKING A REAL INVESTMENT IN THIS ISSUE. IT'S DESTABILIZING OUR COMMUNITY. >> IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME KIND OF CENTRALIZED SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE IN ALL OF THESE STAGES OF NEED -- >> ACTUALLY, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT, BECAUSE WE GET ABOUT $4.5 MILLION EVERY YEAR IN ALBUQUERQUE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OR HUD, TO FUND HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT HELP FOLKS THAT ARE HOMELESS. SO ST. MARTIN'S, BARRETT FOUNDATION, CUIDANDO LOS NINOS ALL GET FUNDING. IT'S CALLED CONTINUUM OF

CARE. AND ACTUALLY, THIS YEAR HUD SAID IF COMMUNITIES WANT TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS. SO THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE DEVELOPING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. >> GREAT. >> AND IT SHOULD HELP >> WELL, WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT PART, AND WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT SOLUTIONS WITH OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE >> I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR LEADERSHIP FOLKS WHO WERE SITTING AND WATCHING A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD IF ANYTHING -- TO TALK ABOUT WHAT STRUCK YOU, WHAT ISSUES ROSE TO THE SURFACE THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, TO ADDRESS. >> I THINK IT'S VERY COMPELLING TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH PROBLEMS WITH BEING HOMELESS, AND I WAS VERY STRUCK BY THE APPRECIATION THAT YOU SEEM TO HAVE FELT FROM GETTING THOSE SERVICES AND THAT HELP.

>> DID IT MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT ANYTHING IN TERMS OF POLICY, SENATOR RYAN? >> I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF TRYING TO PREVENT THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS FROM GETTING TESTIMONIALS. AND ACTUALLY, I THINK AT SOME POINT I'D LIKE TO SEE, WITH REGARD TO WELFARE OR SOME KIND OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, IF SOMEBODY RECEIVES A GIFT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THAT THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF REQUIREMENT TO GO BACK AND GIVE A LITTLE BIT. I THINK THAT EMPOWERS PEOPLE. >> WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU COULD DO IN THE LEGISLATURE? I'LL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. >> AS YOU NOTICE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WHAT CAUSES HOMELESSNESS, AND I THINK THERE'S A NEED TO BRING ALL THOSE AGENCIES TOGETHER TO DO ASSESSMENTS, SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, SEE WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE WITHIN THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES, AND COME UP WITH

PLANS TOGETHER. >> YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE O'NEILL WORKED TO PASS A JOINT MEMORIAL, I THINK LAST YEAR. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEMORIAL IS. >> IS IT MOVING FORWARD? IS IT FUNDED? >> IT IS IN THE BEGINNING STAGES, AND WE DO HAVE SOME COMMITTED LEGISLATORS TO NOW TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS TO CREATE A LITTLE COALITION TASK FORCE WHERE WE'RE MEETING FREQUENTLY TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES. >> DID IT GET FUNDED? >> WE STRIPPED THE FUNDING. THE FUNDING WAS THE PART THAT WAS GOING TO TIE UP THE BILL. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING VERY SERIOUS FISCAL ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE, AND SO HAVING A FUNDING COMPONENT ON IT AT THIS POINT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY KILLED IT. I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND THEN GO FOR THE FUNDING. >> TIM, YOU'RE ON THE SENATE REVENUE STABILIZATION COMMITTEE. WHAT'S THE FISCAL OUTLOOK RIGHT NOW? >> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS,

WE ARE LOOKING AT A SURPLUS SITUATION, AND IT RANGES, ON WHO YOU TALK TO AND IN TERMS OF PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS TO FROM ABOUT $150 MILLION TO $250 MILLION. AND THAT, TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IS REALLY A TINY PIECE OF AN OVERALL SIX TO SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS, THERE'S A SURPLUS, THERE'S SOME EXTRA FUNDS, AND THE BAD NEWS IS, IT IS NOT A LOT, ESPECIALLY TO SPREAD AROUND STATEWIDE. >> CAN I TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE HERE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADVANTAGE THE CONVERSATION BEYOND, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY? >> I WANT TO MAYBE POINT OUT THAT IT'S REALLY AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AND IF WE LOOK AT MATILDA'S SITUATION, SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION, SHE NOW HAS A JOB, AND HER JOB

IS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN MATILDA, AND IT'S GOING TO PAY OFF. >> CAN WE REFRAME THE ISSUE TO THINK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERMS? DOES THAT HELP WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO THE CITY, ROBIN? >> ABSOLUTELY, IT DOES. WITH REGARD TO ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME, WHICH IS THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE THAT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WE HAVE PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME. IT'S NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. >> WHY ARE PRIVATE INVESTORS INVESTING IN THIS? >> BECAUSE OF JUST EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE JUST HEARING. IT REALLY IS AN INVESTMENT. THE TAG LINE OF ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME IS, THE SMART WAY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S THE SMART WAY BECAUSE OF THE HUGE NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING SPENT ON THESE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE HOUSING THAT ARE NOW BEING SAVED BECAUSE THEY ARE STABLY HOUSED. >> SO IDEALLY, YOU SAVED MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE FOCUSING ON THE MOST CHRONIC PEOPLE WHO USE THE MOST SERVICES; IS THAT RIGHT?

>> RIGHT. >> WHAT'S THE IDEA, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE GOTTEN FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO HAVE A WINDFALL, BUT IF YOU DO, THEN WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT EXTRA MONEY? >> WELL, IT'S NOT ALL OUR EXTRA MONEY, AS FAR AS TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT COME IT'S MAYBE EXTRA MONEY THAT GOES TO A HOSPITAL, OR EXTRA MONEY THAT GOES TO BERNALILLO COUNTY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE JAIL, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO YOU'RE RIGHT, IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF COORDINATION TO REDIRECT THAT MONEY SO THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. MY DREAM IS THAT ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME, ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW IT'S FOCUSED ON CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND THOSE WHO ARE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE, BOTH BEHAVIORALLY AND THEN PHYSICALLY, BUT THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE FOCUSED ON, FOR EXAMPLE, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. >> I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF, I SEE THE LOGIC, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEGISLATORS

AND YOU NEED TO PROVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT, BY FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE WHO COST THE MOST, THE MOST CHRONIC HOMELESS. SO YOU SORT OF FOCUS ON THAT, YOU DON'T FOCUS ON SOME OF THE WOMEN WE HAVE HERE WHO HAVE FAMILIES. BUT WHAT IS THE COST TO THEIR CHILDREN BY NOT GETTING THE SERVICES EARLY ON? WE KNOW NOW SO MUCH ABOUT EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF KIDS ARE IN TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS OR HOMELESS, AND THE ENORMOUS COST TO US TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. >> WELL, CERTAINLY ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME ISN'T THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, FOR EXAMPLE, SPENDS ABOUT $12.6 MILLION A YEAR ON HOMELESS PREVENTION AND HOMELESS SERVICES. SO IT'S NOT ALL GOING TO THAT SMALL GROUP OF THE MOST VULNERABLE. IT'S BEING SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH CUIDANDO, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ENABLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN TO USE THAT FACILITY. BARRETT HOUSE. ST. MARTIN'S. VIRTUALLY EVERYONE WHO IS HERE HAS SOME CONNECTION

WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE EXPEND IN THE COMMUNITY. >> WHAT I'M HEARING FROM A LOT OF OUR PROVIDERS IS THAT WE NEED MORE; RIGHT? IS THERE A WAY TO GET MORE? >> THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH HOUSING. THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT IS A CONGRESSIONAL ACT FROM 1977 WHICH SAYS, LENDING INSTITUTIONS WILL INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO SINCE THE MORTGAGE CRISIS, WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH OVERLOOKED THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE'VE KIND OF LET THE BANKS GO BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON. BUT I THINK NOW IT'S TIME TO REDIRECT OUR EFFORTS AND GET BACK TO, WHAT CAN BANKING DO? BECAUSE THE BANKING INDUSTRY, QUITE FRANKLY, HAS RECOVERED. THEY'RE OFFERING NEW MORTGAGES. THE INDUSTRY IS PRETTY HEALTHY. AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK BACK AND SEE WE, AS TAXPAYERS, HAVE DONE A LOT TO SAVE THAT INDUSTRY, AND IT'S TIME FOR

US TO TAKE THEM TO TASK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT. THAT MEANS THAT THEY WILL GIVE DOLLARS INTO THESE COMMUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESSES, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, SENATORS? >> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THEM DOES HAVE TO DO WITH ACCESS TO CREDIT IN OUR SOCIETY, AND IT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE FOLKS WHO RECEIVE THE CREDIT AND THE FOLKS WHO GIVE THE CREDIT. RIGHT NOW, THAT CONNECTION, UNLESS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A COMMUNITY BANK OR A CREDIT UNION, IS BASICALLY TOTALLY SEPARATED. SO THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP THERE, ACTUALLY. MY BACKGROUND IS ACTUALLY IN BANKING, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL BASIS BEHIND BANKING IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, A SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT SO THAT PAYMENTS ARE MADE. SO I ACTUALLY THINK IN THE LONG-TERM, THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE BANKING INDUSTRY, AND IT'S WHY WE SEE DEFAULT RATES CONTINUING TO RISE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT ONE-ON-ONE OR COMMUNITY REINFORCEMENT ACT ANYMORE. SO THAT'S A ZOOM OUT ON A BIG PICTURE STRUCTURAL

PROBLEM, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MANY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT ARE DRIVING THINGS LIKE HOMELESSNESS. >> I THINK THERE'S A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY BANKS AND THE FEDERAL BANKS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE FEDERAL BANKS. >> IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN PRESSURE NATIONAL BANKS? >> I THINK THERE'S PRESSURE TO BE HAD BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT ONLY LOCALLY BUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. >> AND I THINK THE WAY TO MANIFEST THAT PRESSURE IS TO CONNECT THE LENDER AND THE BORROWER, AND WHETHER IT'S A NATIONAL BANK -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK OF, FOR EXAMPLE, WELLS FARGO, I HAD A MORTGAGE WITH THEM AND SO FORTH, AND IT'S ALL SYNDICATED NATIONALLY. SO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO ACTUALLY OWNS MY MORTGAGE, YOU KNOW, IT ACTUALLY -- I MEAN, IT'S A MILLION DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT'S A CONNECTION THAT IS GOING TO -- IT'S REQUIRED TO ACCOMPLISH THE KIND OF COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> I'M GOING TO TAKE A

SOFTER APPROACH. I LIKE THE APPROACH OF AN UPFRONT INVESTMENT, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY EARLY TO CATCH PEOPLE BEFORE THEY HEAD DOWN THESE PATHS TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IF THEY CONTINUE DOWN THE SAME PATH. CUIDANDO LOS NINOS AND OTHER PROVIDERS HAVE HUGE SUCCESS RATES. WHEN THEY TAKE A FAMILY IN, I THINK THEIR'S IS 85%, IF AND THAT TELLS PEOPLE THAT IF WE SPEND MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM, WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE IT, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY WISELY, AND I THINK THAT'S POWERFUL. >> MANY OF US ARE IN A PLACE WHERE WE THINK THAT HOMELESSNESS IS THIS UNSOLVABLE, INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, WHICH MAKES SPENDING GOVERNMENT DOLLARS ON IT VERY UNAPPEALING FOR MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THEY'RE JUST THROWING AWAY MONEY ON A PROBLEM THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE SOLVED. AS ADVOCATES, WE CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB EDUCATING

DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE FACT THAT HOMELESSNESS IS, IN FACT, A SOLVABLE PROBLEM. I MEAN, WE CAN SHOW THAT IF WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS ON PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW WORK, WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> SO WHERE DO WE NEED TO BE SPENDING THE DOLLARS? >> ONE, WE NEED TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW INCOMES. AND THEN WE ALSO NEED TO BE INVESTING IN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE ADDRESS ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR HOMELESSNESS. SO IT MIGHT BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT MIGHT BE LIMITED EDUCATION, OR NOT FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL. AROUND INTERACTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE. I THINK A LOT OF WHAT THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM HAVE TALKED ABOUT ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF HELP THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THESE PROGRAMS. >> SO IS THERE AN APPETITE FOR GETTING MORE MONEY IN THE LEGISLATURE IF WE CAN REFRAME THE ISSUE AND SAY,

LOOK, THIS ISN'T JUST A RETRACTABLE THING, THERE'S GOOD MODELS THAT CAN HELP? >> I THINK THERE'S SOME GROUNDWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH REGARD TO COMBINING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT AREAS. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T WALK IN AND SAY, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE HOUSING, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE JOB TRAINING, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE EDUCATION, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE HEALTH CARE ISSUES, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. THAT'S TOO BIG. IT NEEDS A COORDINATED EFFORT THAT COMES UP WITH, WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT, AND THEN GO IN AND MAKE THE PITCH AS TO WHERE THE FUNDS GO AND HOW THEY GO. >> OUR COALITION JUST STARTED AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS. SO THIS WOULD ENCOMPASS FAMILY HOMELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS. AND THAT PLAN, WE'RE HOPING, IS REALLY GOING TO BE A DYNAMIC PLAN THAT ACTUALLY GETS IMPLEMENTED. WE'RE JUST STARTING, BUT THE IDEA IS TO BRING IN MANY OF THE STATE AGENCIES THAT YOU

WERE TALKING ABOUT TO BE A PART OF THIS PLAN, TO HELP DEVELOP THESE SOLUTIONS, AND TO REALLY TAKE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO LOOKING AT, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOMELESSNESS IN OUR STATE. >> SO WOULD THIS BE IN ADDITION TO THE LEGISLATION THAT SENATOR RYAN IS WORKING ON? >> YES, THE LEGISLATION THAT SENATOR RYAN SPONSORED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY REPORT THAT CAME OUT OF THAT TASK FORCE, AND SO AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THIS STATEWIDE PLAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT, WELL, WHAT ARE THE OTHER PLANNING EFFORTS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE IN THE STATE? WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO RECREATE THE WHEEL HERE. WE CAN ALREADY PULL FROM A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE. WE ALSO WANTED TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON DURING THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES. SO WE'LL BE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES BY $500,000, AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY SHORT- TO MEDIUM-TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO

HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES QUICKLY EXIT HOMELESSNESS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. >> WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THAT? >> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT, AND HAVE SUPPORTED IN THE I THINK IT'S EQUALLY AS UNPRODUCTIVE TO JUST FOCUS ON A PLAN FOR HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE THE CREDIT CRISIS IN AMERICA, OR THE HEALTH CARE SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE TRADE OFF SURGERY FOR THEIR MORTGAGE. AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT IN MY DISTRICT IN THE SOUTHEAST HEIGHTS. A LOT OF THE TRANSIENTS AND HOMELESSNESS IS CAUSED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM RURAL AREAS, PARTICULARLY RESERVATIONS, TO GET HEALTH CARE, AND THEN THEY CAN'T AFFORD A PLACE TO STAY. SO THIS IS WHY IT'S A TOUGH PROBLEM. BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF, HOLD UP THE MIRROR AND SAY, IT TAKES MORE THAN A PLAN, THIS IS ALSO ABOUT POVERTY. >> I THINK THAT IF WE WERE TO EDUCATE THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND INSTILL MORE VALUES, AND SHOW THEM THAT THERE'S MORE HOPE THAN JUST HAVING KIDS AND STRUGGLING, OR TRYING TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP AND STRUGGLING.

LIKE FOR ME, LIFE, TO ME, WAS FIND SOMEBODY, HAVE KIDS, AND BE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. THAT'S NOT HOW THE STORY GOES. YOU FIRST HAVE TO KNOW THE PARTNER. YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE. AND LIKE I'M A SMART GIRL, I WAS SMART IN SCHOOL, I SOME OF IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE SAID I COULDN'T DO, OR I WASN'T WORTH IT, OR WHY ARE YOU HAVING THESE KIDS, WHY DID YOU DO THIS. AND THEN YOU JUST KEEP DIGGING YOURSELF DEEPER AND DEEPER AND DEEPER, AND THEN YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, WHERE AM I? WHAT AM I DOING? I WAKE UP EVERY DAY LIKE, DO I REALLY HAVE FIVE KIDS? LIKE, REALLY? WHAT WAS I THINKING? BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE UNDER SO MUCH STRESS AND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT YOUR KIDS, YOU'RE TRYING TO BE HAPPY, YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THIS, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE MY CONSCIOUS

JUST TURNED OFF AND I WAS JUST LIKE, WELL, THIS IS WHAT I AM, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ANYBODY SUCCESSFUL, I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE THESE KIDS AND I'M JUST GOING TO, YOU KNOW, RAISE THEM AND DEAL WITH MY UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP, AND THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. BUT IT'S NOT. AND THROUGH THE RISE PROGRAM, THEY GAVE ME HOPE. I WAS SO SCARED OF CONFLICT. I COULDN'T JUST SAY, OH, NO, I DESERVE THIS. I NEED THIS. YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS LIKE, WELL, OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL JUST STRUGGLE. OKAY, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. BUT NOW I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORTH MORE. I REALLY HONESTLY FEEL THAT -- I KNOW IT IS HARD WITH INCOME, BUT I FEEL THAT IF WE JUST REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GAVE THEM HOPE. YOU KNOW, JUST BE ABLE TO TURN TO SOMEONE, MY RENT IS DUE, WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? BECAUSE AFTER YOU STRUGGLE FOR SO MUCH, YOU'RE LIKE, WHO CARES? WHO CARES IF I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT? AND THEN YOU JUST START SPENDING MONEY STUPIDLY. OH, WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT, OR I CAN'T PAY INSURANCE, AND YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND WITH

NO INSURANCE, AND THEN YOU LOSE YOUR LICENSE, AND GUESS WHAT? YOU GOT TO RIDE THE BUS. AND YOU GOT TO TAG ALONG THE KIDS. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH -- FOR ME, IT'S MENTAL. >> WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU, I WOULD ASK STEPHANIE AND ANGELICA AND KAREN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS? >> I DON'T KNOW. I'D PROBABLY BE ON THE STREETS, BECAUSE LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM MY MOM. I MEAN, I SEE MY MOM AND STUFF, BUT SHE'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALL THERE. SHE LIKE HAS HER OWN FAMILY AND STUFF. I WOULD JUST BE OUT THERE WITH MY KIDS IN THE COLD, OR IN HUNGER, CRYING FROM HUNGER. >> HOW HAVE YOU FOUND HOPE IN THE SAFE HOUSE? HOW HAS THAT HELPED? >> IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE JUST HELPING ME, LOOKING FOR JUST TO BE LIKE SUPPORTIVE. I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE IN

THERE. >> IS IT HARD TO ASK FOR THAT? >> YES. >> IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME, BECAUSE I WORKED 20 YEARS AS A SOCIAL WORKER BACK ON THE RESERVATION, AND SUPPORTED MY FAMILY. BASICALLY, MY LATE FATHER HAD ALWAYS PUSHED EDUCATION, AND THAT WAS MY KEY TO MY SUPPORT MYSELF. SO I STAYED ON THAT TRACK. AND AFTER WORKING 20 YEARS AND DECIDING TO, OKAY, I CAN PUT IT ONE NOTCH UP AND GO BACK FOR MY MASTER'S, THAT'S WHERE I THINK I HAD TO SACRIFICE. BECAUSE AS THE LENGTH OF TIME YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED, I THINK THE CHANCES START ALSO DECLINING, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEY SEE YOUR RESUME, AND OH, THIS WAS YEARS AGO. BUT YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO EXPLAIN, OKAY, I'M STILL IN SCHOOL, AND I'M TRYING TO IMPROVE MYSELF IN EVERY WAY I CAN, AND I CAN DO THIS JOB. BUT YET, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT JUST WAS NOT SEEN AS REPUTABLE, OR RESPECTED, OR GIVEN THE CREDIT THAT IT

DESERVED. SO I THINK JUST THAT, IN ITSELF. AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO ADMIT AND SAY, OKAY, I NEED HELP. SO THEN GOING TO THE AGENCIES, LIKE TO THE ISD OFFICE, FOR HELP TO SUPPLEMENT MY INCOME. >> YOU NEEDED ASSISTANCE? >> YES. IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE RENT, GETTING $118 IS NOT ENOUGH. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT A MONTH? >> YES. AND WHAT I DO FOR THAT IS GIVE 30 HOURS OF MY TIME TO GO THROUGH THE HOOPS OF WHAT I NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO GET FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM. AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SAVING. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN YOU BREAK ALL THAT DOWN, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ONLY GETTING $2.35 AN HOUR. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO EVEN DO MORE. >> SO THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO SENATOR RYAN'S COMMENT. YOU SAID PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS GET FEDERAL HELP OR STATE

HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PERHAPS HAVE SOME REQUIREMENTS, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS TO GET -- >> I ALREADY HAVE TO. >> WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET IT? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A NEW MEXICO PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BASICALLY GIVE US ACTIVITIES. AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ACTIVITIES. >> ACTIVITIES LIKE WHAT? >> JOB SEARCH. WORK EXPERIENCE. VOLUNTEERING. THERE'S ONLY THREE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT WILL FUND A BUS TICKET OR TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S JOB SEARCH, AND WORK EXPERIENCE, AND GOING TO SCHOOL, I BELIEVE. THE REST ARE NOT FUNDED. LIKE IF YOU WERE TO VOLUNTEER, OR GET COUNSELING TO IMPROVE YOURSELF, THEY'RE NOT -- >> TO WORK ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES? >> YES, OR SELF ESTEEM, OR WHAT HAVE YOU. LIKE TRAUMATIC PTSD FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES, SOME TYPE OF COUNSELING IS NEEDED TO HELP THIS PERSON ALONG TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES. >> AS YOU PURSUE THE TASK

FORCE, SENATOR RYAN, IN ADDITION TO THE AGENCIES COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COLLABORATING, WILL THEY BE SEEKING INPUT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS ISSUE? >> OUR LEGISLATION ALSO INCLUDED CLIENTS, AND THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN DETERMINING HOW WE RESOLVE AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. >> AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WE HAVE JUST FINISHED DOING OUR COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, AND THE WAY WE DID IT WAS THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, PROVIDERS AND USERS OF SERVICES COMING TOGETHER AND GIVING US INFORMATION. WHEN WE WANTED TO DO WAS PRIORITIZE THE WAY WE SPEND OUR DOLLARS. CERTAINLY THE HUGE NEED IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I LOVE WHAT DIANA HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE VACANT HOUSES THAT COULD BE USED FOR FAMILIES. I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS OF HANDLING IT, ALSO. I'M JUST READING SOME

INFORMATION OUT OF DETROIT AND HOW NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE HOUSES THAT ARE VACANT, AND FIX THEM UP EITHER COMMERCIALLY OR BY VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, AND THEN OFFER THEM TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT THOSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> IF DETROIT CAN DO THAT, AND THEY HAVE A SERIOUS HOUSING PROBLEM, SURELY WE CAN DO THAT. >> I THINK SO, TOO. >> IF WE THINK ABOUT EVEN JUST DRIVING UP AND DOWN CENTRAL, AND SOME OF THOSE HOTELS THAT ARE IN ILL REPAIR, DISUSE, THAT'S EASY TRANSITIONAL. NO ONE WOULD WANT TO MAKE THAT PERMANENT, BUT EASY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING STOCK THAT WE COULD USE BETTER. AS I THINK ABOUT MAYBE SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, THERE'S TWO AREAS THAT JUMP OUT, AND ONE IS FUNDING, THE REHABILITATION OF THOSE THROUGH THE MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY. I THINK, TO BE HONEST, THAT ORGANIZATION DOES A LOT OF GOOD, AND A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS RUN THROUGH THAT

ORGANIZATION, AND YOU HAVE TO KIND OF JUST CALL IT LIKE IT IS AND SAY THAT WE SHOULD FUND THEM MORE. I THINK WE GET A VERY HIGH RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT FOR DOING THAT. THE SECOND THING I THINK IS, THIS FORMULA THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE USE FOR, YOU KNOW, ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH MEANS TESTING, SO THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A DISINCENTIVE TO DO THINGS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. LIKE IF YOU WANT TO GET ENGLISH LESSONS, IF YOUR ENGLISH ISN'T THAT GOOD, THAT DOESN'T COUNT AS EDUCATION. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN ISSUE. OR IF YOU NEED A CAR TO DO YOUR INTERVIEWS AND SO FORTH, IF YOU BUY THAT, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE AN ASSET THAT YOU HAVE TO SUBTRACT FROM YOUR SCORE. WE NEED TO MAKE IT SO THAT FOLKS WHO ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE REWARDED FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. YOU ARE FINANCIALLY PENALIZED FROM MAKING THOSE DECISIONS RIGHT NOW. >> AND ALSO, JUST SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY IS FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO ACTUALLY TALK TO EACH OTHER,

ESPECIALLY LIKE SOCIAL SERVICES. I HAVE A FAMILY WHO HAS JUST GRADUATED AND THEY'RE IN HOUSING, AND SHE'S WORKING FULL-TIME, BUT TO KEEP HER CHILD CARE VOUCHERS AND HER FOOD STAMPS, SHE HAS HAD TO GO TO THE CHILD CARE OFFICE, AND THEN GO TO THE FOOD STAMP OFFICE, AND THEY WON'T CALL EACH OTHER. SO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THE FAX FROM THEM. SO BACK TO THE OTHER OFFICE. SHE HAS HAD TO TAKE OFF, SHE SAID, FOUR DAYS THIS MONTH TO HAVE TO GO TO DIFFERENT APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THEY I'M LIKE, THAT DOESN'T COST A LOT OF MONEY FOR YOU TO CALL AND SAY, DID YOU GET MY FAX? TO SHUTTLE PEOPLE AROUND, THAT'S TAKING ALL THE TIME. >> JUST WAITING FOR THE BUS TAKES HOW MANY HOURS OUT OF A DAY. >> ARE THERE INEFFICIENCIES THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED? >> GOVERNMENT, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS VERY INEFFICIENT. I MEAN, YOU TALK TO AGENCY HEADS, AND THESE AGENCIES DON'T HAVE THE SAME COMPUTERS AS THESE ONES. THEY JUST DON'T TALK TO EACH

OTHER. A PRIVATE SECTOR MODEL THAT IS MORE LIKE A ONE-STOP SHOP THAT YOU CAN GO TO, AND THAT PERSON IS GOING TO ASSESS YOUR NEEDS. IS IT HOUSING? IS IT TRANSPORTATION? IS IT WRITING YOUR RESUME? IS IT YOUR PRESENTATION? WHAT DO YOU NEED? AND ONCE THEY MAKE THE ASSESSMENT, THEN THEY DIRECT THEM TO THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY KNOW WORK AND THAT HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL. THAT KIND OF MODEL, I THINK, IS MORE APPROPRIATE. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND TALKING. I KNOW IT'S A REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SHARING YOUR STORIES. I KNOW THAT'S DIFFICULT, AND SITTING AND TALKING WITH US. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING ON PUBLIC SQUARE. >> THANK YOU. >> I LEARNED A LOT. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WAS TO RECREATE THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAD INTRODUCED BEFORE, AND NOW IMPLEMENT IT. >> THIS NEED FOR COORDINATION IS CLEAR, AND

IT'S GREAT THAT IT WAS SORT OF UNANIMOUS AND EVERYONE AROUND THE SQUARE AGREED WITH IT. SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF PROGRESS THERE. WHETHER WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMATIC ISSUES WITH POVERTY, OR THE SPECIFIC ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, THE WILL AND THE ASSOCIATED FUNDING AND STATUTORY CHANGES, YOU KNOW, IS SOMETHING OUR SOCIETY REALLY STRUGGLES WITH. >> IN MANY WAYS, A CENTRAL INTAKE, IN MY MIND, WOULD FUNCTION ALMOST LIKE AN EMERGENCY ROOM IN A HOSPITAL WHERE IT'S TRIAGE. YOU KNOW, THE PERSON COMES IN, AND YOU FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE NEED IS THAT WOULD MOVE THAT PERSON ON THAT PATH TO INDEPENDENCE. OUR HOPE IS TO MAKE HOMELESSNESS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN RARE, SHORT-LIVED, AND NONRECURRING. >> WELL, I HOPE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE, LIKE, BACK WITH MY ABUSER OR NOTHING LIKE THAT. I HOPE I GET MYSELF A HOME, OR SOMEONE WILL HELP ME GET A HOME OUT OF THE SHELTER. I JUST, LIKE, DON'T WANT TO

GO BACK WITH HIM OR NOTHING, OR EVER SEE HIM. JUST TO HAVE MY KIDS SAFE. >> JOIN US FOR PUBLIC SQUARE ON THE LAST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH. TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SQUARE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO NewMexicoPBS.org AND LOOK FOR "PUBLIC SQUARE" UNDER LOCAL PRODUCTIONS. HERE YOU CAN GIVE US FEEDBACK, OR SUGGEST TOPICS. ALSO, LOOK FOR US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.