29-05-2025
Santa Fe looks to new pallet community for homeless; public calls for new lease for Pete's Place
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Santa Fe is looking to build more pallet communities to help get the homeless off the streets. However, the future of a well-known shelter may be in jeopardy. Wednesday's city council meeting focused on the homeless epidemic facing the city. One of the initiatives brought up was a proposal from Mayor Alan Webber to build a new micro-community to house up to 50 individuals living on the streets.
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'In the past, we have seen that these micro-communities are very well managed. They have 24/7 oversight and security, along with wraparound services and hygiene facilities. They work very, very well in cities across the country, and the one here at Christ Lutheran has been very successful as a pilot,' the mayor stated in an interview on Tuesday.
The proposed micro-community would be located near Rodeo Road and Cerillos Road, modeled after the one at Christ Lutheran Church, which currently houses 10 people. Mayor Webber has emphasized the city's efforts to combat homelessness since joining Built for Zero in 2019—a national movement aimed at ensuring that no one is left without housing.
However, there are growing concerns about the possibility of ending the current lease for 'Pete's Place,' a well-known shelter in Santa Fe that provides food, medical care, and other essential services. The shelter's lease with the city is set to expire in October.
During the meeting, members of the public urged the city council to save Pete's Place, with many speaking to save it and provide it with more funding to either expand or find a different, larger location.
The council then went into an executive session to discuss Pete's Place, but did not provide the nature of what was discussed in the executive session. Mayor Webber mentioned that the city is actively looking for more properties that could be used for micro-communities.
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