Santa Fe looks to open more Pallet shelters for unhoused individuals
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Santa Fe wants to create new “Safe Outdoor Spaces” that will provide shelter and amenities for unhoused individuals.
The city is currently looking for privately owned properties to host 64-square-foot shelters, which come from the manufacturer Pallet. “So we’re looking for community partners, non-profits, who might have some land available that are interested in providing shelter opportunities in the community,” said Kristen Woods, program manager with the City of Santa Fe Youth and Family Services Division under the Community Services Department.
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The manufactured shelters can accommodate one or two people and have interchangeable bed and desk options, climate control systems, LED lighting, and a locking door. Guests are allowed to stay multiple days or weeks and can store their belongings for the duration of their stay.
The city is searching for sites that can accommodate shelters for up to 50 people “We currently have 29 units in storage and we are looking into purchasing up to 60 more currently, but depending on what we get, we may be able to expand beyond that even,” Woods explained.
Those who stay at Safe Outdoor Spaces also will be provided resources to help them find stable and permanent housing, jobs, food, and more. The city currently has a partnership with Life Link to help provide those resources and oversee operations at the first Safe Outdoor Space that opened in March in the parking lot of Christ Lutheran Church.
That site is home to 11 residents and five pets, Woods said. Because the program proved to be successful, the city is looking to create more Safe Outdoor Spaces around the community.
“We’ve heard in site visits from residents who are just so grateful to have a place that their families aren’t worrying about them anymore, that they’re able to spend time with their grandchildren, you know, people are there with their pets, people are building friendships,” Woods explained.
The city’s Request for Qualifications can be viewed at the City’s MUNIS Self-Service site under “Non-Congregate Solutions to Unsheltered Homelessness — Safe Outdoor Space Site (OWNER)” and RFQ number 25010.
The submission deadline is Aug. 30. All questions and letters of interest can be submitted to Kristen Woods via email at [email protected].
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Once the city finds partners and a location for the shelters, it plans to work with community members on how the sites will look and what populations will be housed there, Woods added.
Santa Fe is not the only city to utilize Pallet’s shelters. They can also be found in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Florida, and other states.
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