Safe space program for homeless struggles under 'red tape'-- could a change in law save it?

Yahoo

5 days ago

Jul. 28—The Safe Outdoors Spaces program was intended to let community members, businesses and churches help those experiencing homelessness outside their doors by giving them a place to sleep off the streets, tucked away on private property.
Instead, applicants say the process is covered in red tape.
"We've over-regulated it such that it doesn't even work," Mayor Tim Keller said at a Monday news conference.
A new amendment working its way through City Council could help break down some of those barriers and increase safe spaces across the city at a time when those experiencing homelessness are under additional scrutiny from the federal government.
Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order, urging cities to break up encampments of homeless people and institutionalize them through a process called civil commitment. The order also axed federal funding for safe spaces and harm reduction programs, claiming that they promote drug use and "deprioritize accountability."
In Albuquerque, where there are an estimated 2,740 people experiencing homelessness, safe spaces have struggled to get off the ground. As of April, New Creation Church on Zuni is the only safe outdoor space approved by the city in the three years since the program's inception.
Every other site was denied or withdrew their application, according to a city map.
The city law, as it stands, requires a permitted safe space to maintain 24/7 staff, and offer food, mental and physical health services. The first requirement in particular is prohibitively expensive for most, said New Creation Church Pastor Jesse Harden.
"If you pay someone minimum wage to be there 24/7 it's over $100,000 a year, so that, right there, eliminates 99% of people who try to do it," Harden said at the Monday news conference.
Quirky Books owner Gilliam Kerley is one of those 99%.
Outside of the used bookstore off of Central, about 15 people camp each night in 10 tents in the store's parking lot. After receiving complaints from one local business and other callers, the city gave Kerley a choice: clear out the encampment in two weeks or pay a $1,500 fine for ordinance violations.
Kerley paid the fee.
For his business, Kerley said, the requirements to operate a safe space above board are too expensive and labor intensive.
"Someone who is simply providing a place for people to camp shouldn't be required to be a complete wraparound social services provider," Kerley said.
New amendments would lessen that requirement, mandating that safe spaces offer a minimum of three social services, which can include peer support or recovery groups, connecting residents with housing resources or offering GED assistance or adult education.
The new amendments would diminish the staffing requirement from 24/7 to weekday business hours, though one person must remain on-call at all times in case of complaints or emergencies.
The amendments were proposed by City Councilor Nichole Rogers at the request of the mayor's office.
For those experiencing homelessness, a safe space can be a second chance.
"We fell victims of circumstance, and then the financial bind and we ended up not having enough money to stay in the hotels anymore," said Michael Maldonado. "And then we found Jesse."
In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, members of the New Creation Church saw an increase of people experiencing homelessness outside their doorstep, Harden said. The church pastor decided to do more. In April, the church became the first safe outdoor space approved by the city.
"It's been a blessing," Maldonado said. "I'm grateful there's places like this that can help people and make the transition in a safe environment."
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