NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

The most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Rainaldi

 

DATE TYPED:

3/4/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Homelessness Task Force

 

SB

SJM 52

 

 

ANALYST:

Dunbar

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates:  SJM 63

Relates to SB 208

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

New Mexico Correction Department (NMCD)

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

New Mexico State Department of Education (NMSDE)

Human Services Department (HSD)

New Mexico Department of Labor (NMDOL)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Joint Memorial 52 requests that the Department of Health (DOH) convene a task force, in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies, including providers of support and services to the homeless, to address the chronic problem of homelessness and to better provide access to mainstream services to this population.  The task force would be comprised of members representing the following departments: Human Services (HSD), Children, Youth & Families, (CYFD), Labor (DOL), Public Education (SDE), and Corrections (DOC); the New Mexico (NM) Veterans’ Service Commission, the NM Health Policy Commission, the NM Mortgage Finance Authority, and service providers. 

 

SJM 52 would require that a state plan to address chronic homelessness be developed, to include economic development incentives, affordable housing and integrated health and educational supports, therapeutic daycare, substance abuse and behavioral health treatment.  Further, findings and recommendations would be presented to the governor and the appropriate interim legislative committee before the second session of the forty-sixth legislature and copies of SJM 52 would be distributed to all agencies comprising the task force.

 

     Significant Issues

 

DOH states that SJM 52 would provide opportunity for public and private organizations to collectively address the issue of homelessness in New Mexico (NM), recognizing that the problem is complex and requires a comprehensive, collaborative approach to determine solutions.  SJM 52 would enhance the work of the NM Policy Academy Team on Homelessness through this collaborative effort and assure that all stakeholders work towards a statewide plan to include economic development, affordable housing and therapeutic interventions.  

 

The number of homeless persons in NM stands at approximately 13,000 in any given time, costing local communities approximately $40,000 per year per person for the provision of emergency shelter and other support services.  Families with children and persons with disabilities, particularly veterans, make up the wide distribution of homeless persons who seek emergency shelters and who utilize emergency room care due to the lack of access to appropriate primary health care services. 

 

The SDE currently receives the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance grant.  The Education for Homeless Children and Youth program was enacted in 1987 as Title VII, Subtitle B, of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and most recently amended by the No Child Left Behind Act.  The purpose of this program is to ensure that all homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free appropriate public education as is provided to other children and youth. New Mexico currently receives $397,933.  The nine districts that currently run a McKinney-Vento funded homeless education program are Albuquerque, Deming, Farmington, Gadsden, Gallup, Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe and Truth or Consequences.  The programs provide supplies, uniforms, tutoring, transportation, advocacy and referral services for identified homeless students in that district.

 

DUPLICATION, RELATIONSHIP

 

Duplicates SJM 63

 

Relates to SB 208 that would appropriate one million dollars to the HSD to fund emergency shelters, transitional housing, mental health, veterans and case management services, therapeutic childcare and rent assistance.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

SJM 52 includes agencies relative to homelessness in New Mexico, but does not include the Agency on Aging.  There is a growing percentage of elderly that make up the homeless population in New Mexico.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

In September 2001, the NM DOH submitted an application to the federal Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), who in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health Systems Research, Inc., granted NM approval to participate in a Policy Academy to address homelessness and develop a state plan for implementation.  Policy Academy state participants included Arizona, North & South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida and Kentucky.  All participating states have reported the need for multi agency collaboration to begin resolution of homelessness in the nation.

 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 1999 study entitled The Forgotten Americans: Homeless Programs and the People They Serve, states that when homeless people obtain housing assistance and needed services such as health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, education and supported employment, 76% of those living in families and 60% of those living alone end their homeless status and move to an improved living situation after completion of the assistance program.

 

DOH says that nationally, efforts to end homelessness are on the radar screen.  The development of a statewide plan, that supports the physical and behavioral health needs of homeless persons, including appropriate housing and treatment interventions would put NM on the right track to address a complex issue that requires the collaboration between multi state and local government organizations, local providers and consumers.

 

BD/ls/njw:yr