Albuquerque has experienced an increasing rate of homelessness recently, and many residents are upset that the homeless population is encroaching on residential neighborhoods. 

City Council member Brook Bassan was once a supporter of the Safe Outdoor Spaces program as a way to attempt to curb the issue of homelessness.

The Albuquerque City Council narrowly approved the program, but Bassan said there are too many concerns and objections from residents to move forward. 

“It requires more funding, more infrastructure, more planning, more oversight, more organization,” Bassan told KOB 4. “And it is definitely something that will take a lot more work. Although I thought this was a good idea and a step forward in the right direction, the city is making it very clear this is not what they want.”

The Safe Outdoor Spaces program was intended to relocate homeless encampments away from homes and businesses and increase enforcement of trespassing laws, according to Bassan. She believes that misinformation about the proposal prompted many residents to protest the idea before the program began. 

“If we can’t reassure the public and the people of Albuquerque that this is going to be a different path forward that will be effective without causing more crime, danger, and chaos, [then] we shouldn’t be doing it yet,” Bassan said.

She offered a resolution to remove the Safe Outdoor Spaces program from any legislation or funding during a recent council meeting. The resolution was denied, KOB 4 reported.

Bassan believes the homeless situation needs to be researched further and the public should be involved. 

“We have to come up with something more,” she said. “And I believe that maybe the public should be the ones to come to us with ideas to help.”