The City of Santa Fe is seeking ways to address its homeless situation after deciding to enforce existing ordinances that prohibit encampments.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, City officials deprioritized removing encampments, a KRQE report said. The goal was to prevent the spread of the virus by leaving encampments in place. But the policy prohibiting encampments is scheduled to resume on Sept. 2.
“It’s imperative that we find real solutions to unsheltered camping,” Kyra Ochoa, director of the Community Health and Safety Department, said in a press release obtained by KRQE. She added that solutions should “protect the quality of life in all our neighborhoods and connect people living out of doors with shelter and housing that meet their needs.”
But not all agree that shelters are always the best answer.
“Sometimes the encampment is the safer choice for people, especially if they do know several other homeless people and they feel safe with them,” Allan Boulley, who was once homeless, told KRQE.
The City will use new park rangers to clear encampments in the order that they are reported, the KRQE report said. Anyone camping on city property will be directed to available shelters. To help accommodate displaced individuals, the nonprofit community center Pete’s Place will open its doors to men beginning on Sept. 2. The center typically operates in a women-and-children-only mode until mid-October.
Santa Fe officials are continuing to look for longer-term options, the report said. A roundtable gathering took place earlier this week at the Santa Fe Convention Center in which affordable housing, shelters, higher wages and mental health care were discussed.
