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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR M.P. Garcia
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/16/2007
HM 18
SHORT TITLE Homeless Study in Barelas Neighborhood
SB
ANALYST Schuss
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)
FY07
FY08
FY09 3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
Total
$60.0
$60.0
Non-
Recurring General
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Public Education Department (PED)
Human Services Department (HSD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Memorial 18 requests a study of Homelessness in New Mexico that focuses on the
problems in the Barelas Neighborhood of Albuquerque. The Human Services Department is
requested to establish a new work group focused entirely on homelessness, with high priority
given to focus on the problems of the Barelas community as an example of a pattern occurring
throughout New Mexico. The work group shall compile data on the needs of homeless persons in
New Mexico, documenting at a minimum where the homeless persons in the Barelas
neighborhood originated. The work group will compile data and present it in the form of a report
to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee before December 1, 2007, with special
emphasis on the needs of the homeless population of the area and recommendations for ways to
keep homeless people in their home towns by providing better services in smaller cities and
providing better housing and employment options in urban areas where homeless persons are
drawn by services. Copies of this memorial shall be transmitted to the heads of all Albuquerque
area Homeless agencies, to the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Human Services.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
HSD reports that a full-time group coordinator will be needed in order for HSD to establish a
new work group. It is estimated that a full-time work group coordinator would cost the agency
pg_0002
House Memorial 18 – Page
2
$60,000 per year.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
HM 18 states that more than 3,000 of the state’s homeless population of 8,000 live on
Albuquerque’s streets, and more than double the number of organizations serving the homeless
population exists in Albuquerque as in the next city with a large population of homeless persons.
The homeless population is drawn to live in Barelas as transportation connections, social
services, medical supplies, groceries and a hospital are close by.
According to PED, Albuquerque Public Schools reported the following in 2005-06:
•
3,120 children and youths Pre-K through 12
th
-grade were reported homeless.
•
Their primary nighttime residences were the following: doubled-up, shelters,
hotels/motels, unsheltered (e.g., cars, parks, campgrounds, etc.).
•
The number receiving educational and school services were as follows:
¾
495 received special education services
¾
744 were English Language Learners
¾
23 were gifted and talented
¾
399 received vocational education services.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
HSD would be responsible for compiling a report due by December 1, 2007. With no funding in
the HSD Executive Budget, HSD resources would need to be re-aligned in order to meet this
deadline without the addition of personnel. It is estimated that a full-time work group coordinator
would be needed at a projected cost of $60,000.
RELATIONSHIP
Relates to HB 172 which appropriates $500,000 to the Children, Youth and Families Department
to expand funding for homelessness programs statewide.
Relates to SB 586 which appropriates $500,000 to the Human services Department to expand
funding for homelessness programs statewide.
ALTERNATIVES
According to HSD, MFA might be an appropriate entity to coordinate a work group of this
magnitude due to the fact that MFA already receives funding from HSD for the Homeless
Program and the funding is intended to cover emergency shelter, homeless prevention,
permanent supportive housing, continuum of care and “essential services." Essential services
include mental health counseling, employment counseling, substance abuse treatment and
assistance in obtaining housing along with related services. The New Mexico Coalition to End
Homelessness and MFA have already developed an action plan for New Mexico.
BS/csd