Native American Homelessness and Services

In August of 2015, the Native American Homelessness Task Force was launched, in response to the senseless murders of two Native American men on Albuquerque’s west Central Avenue the previous year. The Task Force issued 14 recommendations.

Native American Homeless Task Force Recommendations

The Following are the 14 recommendations from the Native American Homeless Task Force.

Immediate & Priority Recommendations

1. Appoint a Native American Liaison for the city to coordinate with tribal leadership and tribal programs.
2. Develop and deliver cultural humility training to service providers and other city employees who interact with Native Americans.
3. Fast track implementation of Statewide Coordinated Assessment System to enhance existing HMIS framework, while ensuring all data collected contains tribal specific affiliation.
4. Develop mechanism to foster collaboration and develop linkages between programs align resources/services appropriately for Native American families and individuals (i.e. Heading Home arm specific to homeless Native Americans).
5. Identify additional funding for at least two additional case workers to assist Native American homeless individuals.
6. Initiate public — private —tribal partnerships to explore opportunities to increase public housing specifically for Native Americans on the verge of homelessness.
7. Develop a resource directory of existing programs and services available to all homeless persons and that also highlights programs and services specific to homeless Native Americans

Medium & Short Term Priority Recommendation

1. Identify cost effective models for increasing the number of public restrooms and showers (i.e. Portland Loo model), and develop a timeline for implementation.
2. Develop a system to provide resource opportunities and build on existing "hubs" of activities/services that promote a sense of community through area organizations.
3. Initiate public — private — tribal partnerships to maximize federal funding for Medicaid, which could increase access to behavioral health services and primary care.
4. Partner with higher education institution to conduct a need-gap analysis and involve existing Native American serving organizations to examine existing assessments and determine why previous interventions have fallen short.

Long Term Priority

1. Expand access to emergency shelters and transitional housing.
2. Support efforts to ensure homelessness is included in N.M. Hate Crimes Act.
3. Seek additional state and federal dollars for homelessness serving programs.