A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS OF SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS, INCLUDING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE LABOR DEPARTMENT, THE NEW MEXICO VETERANS' SERVICE COMMISSION, THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT, THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION AND THE NEW MEXICO MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY, TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS AND TO BETTER PROVIDE ACCESS TO MAINSTREAM SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, approximately thirteen thousand people in New Mexico, including veterans, families with children and persons with disabilities, are homeless at any given date and time; and

WHEREAS, it has been found that people who are chronically homeless most often suffer serious mental health and substance use disorders, also called co-occurring disorders; and

WHEREAS, it has been found that without proper treatment and support, the chronically homeless are high users of jail, emergency room and other hospital services, causing an undue financial burden of approximately forty thousand dollars ($40,000) per person each year to local community service systems, including local governments; and

WHEREAS, the federal department of health and human services, in conjunction with the veterans' administration and the department of housing and urban development, has invited representatives from New Mexico's public and private sector to participate in a national policy academy to address the problem of chronic homelessness, to determine how to better provide access to mainstream services to the homeless and to develop state action plans; and

WHEREAS, a state action plan to resolve chronic homelessness in New Mexico must include economic development incentives, affordable housing and integrated health and educational supports and services, including therapeutic daycare and substance abuse and behavioral health treatment;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to convene a task force in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies and providers of support and services to the homeless, including the human services department, the children, youth and families department, the state department of public education, the labor department, the New Mexico veterans' service commission, the corrections department, the New Mexico health policy commission and the New Mexico mortgage finance authority, to address the chronic problem of homelessness and to better provide access to mainstream services to the homeless in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force develop a state action plan to address chronic homelessness in New Mexico and present its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate interim legislative committee before the second session of the forty-sixth legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health and to the human services department, the children, youth and families department, the state department of public education, the labor department, the New Mexico veterans' service commission, the corrections department, the New Mexico health policy commission and the New Mexico mortgage finance authority.