Mayor says Las Cruces ends veteran homelessness
In Las Cruces all homeless veterans now have a place to call home or are in the process of getting a place to live.
Mayor Ken Miyagishima said Monday in a news conference that Las Cruces is the first city in New Mexico to end veteran homelessness.
The efforts started last year after first lady Michelle Obama challenged mayors across the United States to establish programs to help veterans.
Miyagishima said Las Cruces made the commitment in August 2014.
According to the Obama Administration, as of January 2014, overall veteran homelessness is down 33 percent since 2010.
“Here we are five months early. They were asking for it to be done by December 2015. We could not have done it without our great partner,” said Miyagishima.
The city of Las Cruces gave local shelter Community of Hope more than $50,000 to help fund its nine different housing programs.
The shelter has also received federal funding to place veterans in homes.
Community of Hope director- Nicole Martinez- said veterans make up 20 percent of homeless people in Las Cruces, many of whom make Tent City their home in the southwest part of the city.
Martinez said nearly 80 veterans have a home and several are staying in a shelter while they find a place to live.
“We have identified all of the homeless veterans in Las Cruces. We have a housing plan for each of them. Every single one of them is currently being sheltered.” said Martinez.
Every veteran who walks into the Community of Hope has a housing plan withing 30 days said Martinez.
Case managers have worked around the clock to get veterans out of tents, off the streets and into homes.
“These veterans, they fought for our freedom, they defended liberty and some of them made the ultimate sacrifice so now it’s our time to repay them,” said Miyagishima.
While Las Cruces continues to assist homeless veterans, Miyagishima said the city’s focus is to help them find jobs.
“What I’ll be bringing to city council in the near future is an opportunity for various businesses to hire at least one homeless vet.”
Miyagishima said all it takes is one business to give veterans a chance.
