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>> I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR LEADERSHIP FOLKS WHO WERE
SITTING AND WATCHING A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION WE JUST
HAD IF ANYTHING -- TO TALK ABOUT WHAT STRUCK YOU, WHAT
ISSUES ROSE TO THE SURFACE THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT,
TO ADDRESS. >> I THINK IT'S VERY
COMPELLING TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN
THROUGH PROBLEMS WITH BEING HOMELESS, AND I WAS VERY
STRUCK BY THE APPRECIATION THAT YOU SEEM TO HAVE FELT
FROM GETTING THOSE SERVICES AND THAT HELP.
>> DID IT MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT ANYTHING IN TERMS OF
POLICY, SENATOR RYAN? >> I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A
VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF TRYING TO PREVENT THESE
KINDS OF SITUATIONS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE,
GETTING TESTIMONIALS. AND ACTUALLY, I THINK AT
SOME POINT I'D LIKE TO SEE, WITH REGARD TO WELFARE OR
SOME KIND OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, IF SOMEBODY
RECEIVES A GIFT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THAT THEY HAVE
SOME KIND OF REQUIREMENT TO GO BACK AND GIVE A LITTLE
BIT. I THINK THAT EMPOWERS
PEOPLE. >> WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF
WHAT YOU COULD DO IN THE LEGISLATURE?
I'LL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. >> AS YOU NOTICE, THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES INVOLVED IN
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WHAT CAUSES HOMELESSNESS, AND I
THINK THERE'S A NEED TO BRING ALL THOSE AGENCIES
TOGETHER TO DO ASSESSMENTS, SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, SEE
WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE WITHIN THE DIFFERENT
AGENCIES, AND COME UP WITH PLANS TOGETHER.
>> YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE O'NEILL WORKED TO PASS A
JOINT MEMORIAL, I THINK LAST YEAR.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEMORIAL IS.
>> IS IT MOVING FORWARD? IS IT FUNDED?
>> IT IS IN THE BEGINNING STAGES, AND WE DO HAVE SOME
COMMITTED LEGISLATORS TO NOW TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP,
WHICH IS TO CREATE A LITTLE COALITION TASK FORCE WHERE
WE'RE MEETING FREQUENTLY TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES.
>> DID IT GET FUNDED? >> WE STRIPPED THE FUNDING.
THE FUNDING WAS THE PART THAT WAS GOING TO TIE UP THE
BILL. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN
ADDRESSING VERY SERIOUS FISCAL ISSUES WITHIN THE
STATE, AND SO HAVING A FUNDING COMPONENT ON IT AT
THIS POINT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY KILLED IT.
I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND
THEN GO FOR THE FUNDING. >> TIM, YOU'RE ON THE
SENATE REVENUE STABILIZATION COMMITTEE.
WHAT'S THE FISCAL OUTLOOK RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE ARE LOOKING AT A SURPLUS
SITUATION, AND IT RANGES, ON WHO YOU TALK TO AND IN TERMS
OF PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS TO THINGS LIKE MEDICAID, REALLY
FROM ABOUT $150 MILLION TO $250 MILLION.
AND THAT, TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IS REALLY A
TINY PIECE OF AN OVERALL SIX TO SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR
BUDGET. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS, THERE'S
A SURPLUS, THERE'S SOME EXTRA FUNDS, AND THE BAD
NEWS IS, IT IS NOT A LOT, ESPECIALLY TO SPREAD AROUND
STATEWIDE. >> CAN I TALK TO OUR
COMMUNITY PEOPLE HERE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADVANTAGE THE
CONVERSATION BEYOND, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY?
>> I WANT TO MAYBE POINT OUT THAT IT'S REALLY AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
AREN'T HOMELESS. AND IF WE LOOK AT MATILDA'S
SITUATION, SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION, SHE
NOW HAS A JOB, AND HER JOB IS GIVING BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY. SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
INVESTMENT IN MATILDA, AND IT'S GOING TO PAY OFF.
>> CAN WE REFRAME THE ISSUE TO THINK ABOUT IT IN THOSE
TERMS? DOES THAT HELP WHEN YOU'RE
GOING TO THE CITY, ROBIN? >> ABSOLUTELY, IT DOES.
WITH REGARD TO ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME, WHICH IS THE
HOMELESS INITIATIVE THAT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS BY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WE HAVE
PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN ALBUQUERQUE
HEADING HOME. IT'S NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM. >> WHY ARE PRIVATE
INVESTORS INVESTING IN THIS? >> BECAUSE OF JUST EXACTLY
WHAT WE WERE JUST HEARING. IT REALLY IS AN INVESTMENT.
THE TAG LINE OF ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME IS, THE SMART
WAY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S THE SMART WAY BECAUSE
OF THE HUGE NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING SPENT
ON THESE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE
HOUSING THAT ARE NOW BEING SAVED BECAUSE THEY ARE
STABLY HOUSED. >> SO IDEALLY, YOU SAVED
MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE FOCUSING ON THE MOST CHRONIC
PEOPLE WHO USE THE MOST SERVICES; IS THAT RIGHT?
>> RIGHT. >> WHAT'S THE IDEA, AND I'M
NOT SURE IF YOU'VE GOTTEN FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO HAVE A
WINDFALL, BUT IF YOU DO, THEN WHAT DO YOU DO WITH
THAT EXTRA MONEY? >> WELL, IT'S NOT ALL OUR
EXTRA MONEY, AS FAR AS TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT COME
TO THE CITY. IT'S MAYBE EXTRA MONEY THAT
GOES TO A HOSPITAL, OR EXTRA MONEY THAT GOES TO
BERNALILLO COUNTY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE JAIL, THOSE
KINDS OF THINGS. SO YOU'RE RIGHT, IT TAKES A
GREAT DEAL OF COORDINATION TO REDIRECT THAT MONEY SO
THAT WE'RE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. MY DREAM IS THAT ALBUQUERQUE
HEADING HOME, ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW IT'S FOCUSED ON
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND THOSE WHO ARE MEDICALLY
VULNERABLE, BOTH BEHAVIORALLY AND THEN
PHYSICALLY, BUT THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE FOCUSED ON,
FOR EXAMPLE, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
>> I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF, I
SEE THE LOGIC, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEGISLATORS
AND YOU NEED TO PROVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT, BY
FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE WHO COST THE MOST, THE MOST
CHRONIC HOMELESS. SO YOU SORT OF FOCUS ON
THAT, YOU DON'T FOCUS ON SOME OF THE WOMEN WE HAVE
HERE WHO HAVE FAMILIES. BUT WHAT IS THE COST TO
THEIR CHILDREN BY NOT GETTING THE SERVICES EARLY
ON? WE KNOW NOW SO MUCH ABOUT
EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF KIDS ARE IN
TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS OR HOMELESS, AND THE ENORMOUS
COST TO US TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> WELL, CERTAINLY ALBUQUERQUE HEADING HOME
ISN'T THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING.
THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, FOR EXAMPLE, SPENDS ABOUT
$12.6 MILLION A YEAR ON HOMELESS PREVENTION AND
HOMELESS SERVICES. SO IT'S NOT ALL GOING TO
THAT SMALL GROUP OF THE MOST VULNERABLE.
IT'S BEING SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH
CUIDANDO, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ENABLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
CHILDREN TO USE THAT FACILITY.
BARRETT HOUSE. ST. MARTIN'S.
VIRTUALLY EVERYONE WHO IS HERE HAS SOME CONNECTION
WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE EXPEND IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT I'M HEARING FROM A LOT OF OUR PROVIDERS IS THAT
WE NEED MORE; RIGHT? IS THERE A WAY TO GET MORE?
>> THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH HOUSING.
THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT IS A CONGRESSIONAL ACT
FROM 1977 WHICH SAYS, LENDING INSTITUTIONS WILL
INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY GATHER DEPOSITS.
SO SINCE THE MORTGAGE CRISIS, WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH
OVERLOOKED THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE'VE KIND OF LET THE BANKS
GO BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
BUT I THINK NOW IT'S TIME TO REDIRECT OUR EFFORTS AND GET
BACK TO, WHAT CAN BANKING DO?
BECAUSE THE BANKING INDUSTRY, QUITE FRANKLY, HAS
RECOVERED. THEY'RE OFFERING NEW
MORTGAGES. THE INDUSTRY IS PRETTY
HEALTHY. AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR
THEM TO TAKE A LOOK BACK AND SEE WE, AS TAXPAYERS, HAVE
DONE A LOT TO SAVE THAT INDUSTRY, AND IT'S TIME FOR
US TO TAKE THEM TO TASK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
REINVESTMENT ACT. THAT MEANS THAT THEY WILL
GIVE DOLLARS INTO THESE COMMUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESSES, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, SENATORS?
>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF
HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THEM DOES HAVE
TO DO WITH ACCESS TO CREDIT IN OUR SOCIETY, AND IT ALSO
HAS TO DO WITH THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE FOLKS
WHO RECEIVE THE CREDIT AND THE FOLKS WHO GIVE THE
CREDIT. RIGHT NOW, THAT CONNECTION,
UNLESS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A COMMUNITY BANK OR A CREDIT
UNION, IS BASICALLY TOTALLY SEPARATED.
SO THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP THERE, ACTUALLY.
MY BACKGROUND IS ACTUALLY IN BANKING, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL
BASIS BEHIND BANKING IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, A SOCIAL
REINFORCEMENT SO THAT PAYMENTS ARE MADE.
SO I ACTUALLY THINK IN THE LONG-TERM, THIS IS A PROBLEM
FOR THE BANKING INDUSTRY, AND IT'S WHY WE SEE DEFAULT
RATES CONTINUING TO RISE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT
ONE-ON-ONE OR COMMUNITY REINFORCEMENT ACT ANYMORE.
SO THAT'S A ZOOM OUT ON A BIG PICTURE STRUCTURAL
PROBLEM, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MANY SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS THAT ARE DRIVING THINGS LIKE
HOMELESSNESS. >> I THINK THERE'S A CLEAR
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY BANKS AND THE
FEDERAL BANKS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE
FEDERAL BANKS. >> IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN
PRESSURE NATIONAL BANKS? >> I THINK THERE'S PRESSURE
TO BE HAD BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, NOT ONLY LOCALLY
BUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. >> AND I THINK THE WAY TO
MANIFEST THAT PRESSURE IS TO CONNECT THE LENDER AND THE
BORROWER, AND WHETHER IT'S A NATIONAL BANK -- YOU KNOW,
IF YOU THINK OF, FOR EXAMPLE, WELLS FARGO, I HAD
A MORTGAGE WITH THEM AND SO FORTH, AND IT'S ALL
SYNDICATED NATIONALLY. SO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO
ACTUALLY OWNS MY MORTGAGE, YOU KNOW, IT ACTUALLY -- I
MEAN, IT'S A MILLION DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN SEVERAL
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT'S A
CONNECTION THAT IS GOING TO -- IT'S REQUIRED TO
ACCOMPLISH THE KIND OF COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> I'M GOING TO TAKE A
SOFTER APPROACH. I LIKE THE APPROACH OF AN
UPFRONT INVESTMENT, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY EARLY TO
CATCH PEOPLE BEFORE THEY HEAD DOWN THESE PATHS TO
WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IF THEY
CONTINUE DOWN THE SAME PATH. CUIDANDO LOS NI�OS AND OTHER
PROVIDERS HAVE HUGE SUCCESS RATES.
WHEN THEY TAKE A FAMILY IN, I THINK THEIR'S IS 85%, IF
NOT GREATER THAN THAT. AND THAT TELLS PEOPLE THAT
IF WE SPEND MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM, WE'RE GOING TO
SOLVE IT, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY WISELY, AND
I THINK THAT'S POWERFUL. >> MANY OF US ARE IN A
PLACE WHERE WE THINK THAT HOMELESSNESS IS THIS
UNSOLVABLE, INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, WHICH MAKES
SPENDING GOVERNMENT DOLLARS ON IT VERY UNAPPEALING FOR
MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THEY'RE JUST THROWING
AWAY MONEY ON A PROBLEM THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE
SOLVED. AS ADVOCATES, WE CAN DO A
MUCH BETTER JOB EDUCATING DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE
FACT THAT HOMELESSNESS IS, IN FACT, A SOLVABLE PROBLEM.
I MEAN, WE CAN SHOW THAT IF WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS ON
PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW WORK, WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS FOR
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> SO WHERE DO WE NEED TO
BE SPENDING THE DOLLARS? >> ONE, WE NEED TO INVEST
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY AFFORDABLE
RENTAL HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW
INCOMES. AND THEN WE ALSO NEED TO BE
INVESTING IN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE
ADDRESS ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR
HOMELESSNESS. SO IT MIGHT BE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. IT MIGHT BE LIMITED
EDUCATION, OR NOT FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL.
IT MIGHT BE JUST LIFE SKILLS AROUND INTERACTING WITH
OTHER PEOPLE. I THINK A LOT OF WHAT THE
FOLKS IN THE ROOM HAVE TALKED ABOUT ARE GREAT
EXAMPLES OF HELP THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM
THESE PROGRAMS. >> SO IS THERE AN APPETITE
FOR GETTING MORE MONEY IN THE LEGISLATURE IF WE CAN
REFRAME THE ISSUE AND SAY, LOOK, THIS ISN'T JUST A
RETRACTABLE THING, THERE'S GOOD MODELS THAT CAN HELP?
>> I THINK THERE'S SOME GROUNDWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE WITH REGARD TO COMBINING ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT AREAS. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T WALK IN
AND SAY, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE HOUSING, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE
JOB TRAINING, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE EDUCATION, WE'VE GOT
TO SOLVE HEALTH CARE ISSUES, WE'VE GOT TO SOLVE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. THAT'S TOO BIG.
IT NEEDS A COORDINATED EFFORT THAT COMES UP WITH,
WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM
BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT, AND THEN GO IN AND MAKE THE
PITCH AS TO WHERE THE FUNDS GO AND HOW THEY GO.
>> OUR COALITION JUST STARTED AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP
A STATEWIDE PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS.
SO THIS WOULD ENCOMPASS FAMILY HOMELESSNESS,
HOMELESSNESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, VETERANS. AND THAT PLAN, WE'RE HOPING,
IS REALLY GOING TO BE A DYNAMIC PLAN THAT ACTUALLY
GETS IMPLEMENTED. WE'RE JUST STARTING, BUT THE
IDEA IS TO BRING IN MANY OF THE STATE AGENCIES THAT YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT TO BE A PART OF THIS PLAN, TO HELP
DEVELOP THESE SOLUTIONS, AND TO REALLY TAKE A SYSTEMATIC
APPROACH TO LOOKING AT, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO REALLY HAVE
AN IMPACT ON HOMELESSNESS IN OUR STATE.
>> SO WOULD THIS BE IN ADDITION TO THE LEGISLATION
THAT SENATOR RYAN IS WORKING ON?
>> YES, THE LEGISLATION THAT SENATOR RYAN SPONSORED
A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY REPORT
THAT CAME OUT OF THAT TASK FORCE, AND SO AS WE'RE
DEVELOPING THIS STATEWIDE PLAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT,
WELL, WHAT ARE THE OTHER PLANNING EFFORTS THAT HAVE
ALREADY TAKEN PLACE IN THE STATE?
WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO RECREATE THE WHEEL HERE.
WE CAN ALREADY PULL FROM A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE
DONE. WE ALSO WANTED TO LET FOLKS
KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON
DURING THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS
ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES.
SO WE'LL BE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE
FUNDING FOR RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES BY $500,000, AND
THAT'S SPECIFICALLY SHORT- TO MEDIUM-TERM RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES
QUICKLY EXIT HOMELESSNESS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
>> WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT,
AND HAVE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.
I THINK IT'S EQUALLY AS UNPRODUCTIVE TO JUST FOCUS
ON A PLAN FOR HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT ADDRESSING THINGS
LIKE THE CREDIT CRISIS IN AMERICA, OR THE HEALTH CARE
SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE TRADE OFF SURGERY FOR THEIR
MORTGAGE. AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT IN MY
DISTRICT IN THE SOUTHEAST HEIGHTS.
A LOT OF THE TRANSIENTS AND HOMELESSNESS IS CAUSED
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM RURAL AREAS,
PARTICULARLY RESERVATIONS, TO GET HEALTH CARE, AND THEN
THEY CAN'T AFFORD A PLACE TO STAY.
SO THIS IS WHY IT'S A TOUGH PROBLEM.
BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF, HOLD UP THE
MIRROR AND SAY, IT TAKES MORE THAN A PLAN, THIS IS
ALSO ABOUT POVERTY. >> I THINK THAT IF WE WERE
TO EDUCATE THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND INSTILL MORE VALUES, AND
SHOW THEM THAT THERE'S MORE HOPE THAN JUST HAVING KIDS
AND STRUGGLING, OR TRYING TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP AND
STRUGGLING. LIKE FOR ME, LIFE, TO ME,
WAS FIND SOMEBODY, HAVE KIDS, AND BE HAPPILY EVER
AFTER. THAT'S NOT HOW THE STORY
GOES. YOU FIRST HAVE TO KNOW THE
PARTNER. YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE GOING. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE. AND LIKE I'M A SMART GIRL,
I WAS SMART IN SCHOOL, I JUST MADE BAD CHOICES.
SOME OF IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE SAID I COULDN'T
DO, OR I WASN'T WORTH IT, OR WHY ARE YOU HAVING THESE
KIDS, WHY DID YOU DO THIS. AND THEN YOU JUST KEEP
DIGGING YOURSELF DEEPER AND DEEPER AND DEEPER, AND THEN
YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, WHERE AM I?
WHAT AM I DOING? I WAKE UP EVERY DAY LIKE, DO
I REALLY HAVE FIVE KIDS? LIKE, REALLY?
WHAT WAS I THINKING? BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE UNDER
SO MUCH STRESS AND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS IN YOUR
LIFE, YOU'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT YOUR KIDS, YOU'RE
TRYING TO BE HAPPY, YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THIS, I DON'T
KNOW, MAYBE MY CONSCIOUS JUST TURNED OFF AND I WAS
JUST LIKE, WELL, THIS IS WHAT I AM, I'M NOT GOING TO
BE ANYBODY SUCCESSFUL, I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE THESE
KIDS AND I'M JUST GOING TO, YOU KNOW, RAISE THEM AND
DEAL WITH MY UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP, AND THIS IS
JUST THE WAY IT IS. BUT IT'S NOT.
AND THROUGH THE RISE PROGRAM, THEY GAVE ME HOPE.
I WAS SO SCARED OF CONFLICT. I COULDN'T JUST SAY, OH, NO,
I DESERVE THIS. I NEED THIS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS LIKE, WELL, OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL
JUST STRUGGLE. OKAY, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT NOW I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORTH MORE.
I REALLY HONESTLY FEEL THAT -- I KNOW IT IS HARD
WITH INCOME, BUT I FEEL THAT IF WE JUST REACHED OUT TO
THE COMMUNITY AND GAVE THEM HOPE.
YOU KNOW, JUST BE ABLE TO TURN TO SOMEONE, MY RENT IS
DUE, WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? BECAUSE AFTER YOU STRUGGLE
FOR SO MUCH, YOU'RE LIKE, WHO CARES?
WHO CARES IF I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT?
AND THEN YOU JUST START SPENDING MONEY STUPIDLY.
OH, WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT, OR
I CAN'T PAY INSURANCE, AND YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND WITH
NO INSURANCE, AND THEN YOU LOSE YOUR LICENSE, AND GUESS
WHAT? YOU GOT TO RIDE THE BUS.
AND YOU GOT TO TAG ALONG THE KIDS.
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH -- FOR ME, IT'S MENTAL.
>> WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU, I WOULD ASK STEPHANIE AND
ANGELICA AND KAREN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU DIDN'T
HAVE THESE PROBLEMS? >> I DON'T KNOW.
I'D PROBABLY BE ON THE STREETS, BECAUSE LIKE I
DON'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM MY MOM.
I MEAN, I SEE MY MOM AND STUFF, BUT SHE'S NOT LIKE,
YOU KNOW, ALL THERE. SHE LIKE HAS HER OWN FAMILY
AND STUFF. I WOULD JUST BE OUT THERE
WITH MY KIDS IN THE COLD, OR IN HUNGER, CRYING FROM
HUNGER. >> HOW HAVE YOU FOUND HOPE
IN THE SAFE HOUSE? HOW HAS THAT HELPED?
>> IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE JUST HELPING ME, LOOKING FOR
A HOUSE FOR ME AND MY KIDS. JUST TO BE LIKE SUPPORTIVE.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE IN THERE.
>> IS IT HARD TO ASK FOR THAT?
>> YES. >> IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD
FOR ME, BECAUSE I WORKED 20 YEARS AS A SOCIAL WORKER
BACK ON THE RESERVATION, AND SUPPORTED MY FAMILY.
BASICALLY, MY LATE FATHER HAD ALWAYS PUSHED EDUCATION,
AND THAT WAS MY KEY TO MY INDEPENDENCE AND HOW TO
SUPPORT MYSELF. SO I STAYED ON THAT TRACK.
AND AFTER WORKING 20 YEARS AND DECIDING TO, OKAY, I CAN
PUT IT ONE NOTCH UP AND GO BACK FOR MY MASTER'S, THAT'S
WHERE I THINK I HAD TO SACRIFICE.
BECAUSE AS THE LENGTH OF TIME YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED, I
THINK THE CHANCES START ALSO DECLINING, AND IT'S VERY
HARD TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEY SEE
YOUR RESUME, AND OH, THIS WAS YEARS AGO.
BUT YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO EXPLAIN, OKAY, I'M STILL IN
SCHOOL, AND I'M TRYING TO IMPROVE MYSELF IN EVERY WAY
I CAN, AND I CAN DO THIS JOB.
BUT YET, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT
JUST WAS NOT SEEN AS REPUTABLE, OR RESPECTED, OR
GIVEN THE CREDIT THAT IT DESERVED.
SO I THINK JUST THAT, IN ITSELF.
AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO ADMIT AND SAY, OKAY, I NEED
HELP. SO THEN GOING TO THE
AGENCIES, LIKE TO THE ISD OFFICE, FOR HELP TO
SUPPLEMENT MY INCOME. >> YOU NEEDED ASSISTANCE?
>> YES. IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE
RENT, GETTING $118 IS NOT ENOUGH.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT A MONTH?
>> YES. AND WHAT I DO FOR THAT IS
GIVE 30 HOURS OF MY TIME TO GO THROUGH THE HOOPS OF WHAT
I NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO GET FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM.
AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SAVING.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN YOU BREAK ALL THAT
DOWN, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ONLY GETTING $2.35 AN HOUR.
ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO EVEN DO MORE.
>> SO THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO SENATOR RYAN'S COMMENT.
YOU SAID PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS GET FEDERAL HELP OR STATE
HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PERHAPS HAVE SOME
REQUIREMENTS, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, YOU HAVE
TO DO THINGS TO GET -- >> I ALREADY HAVE TO.
>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET IT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE EXPECTED TO
PARTICIPATE IN A NEW MEXICO PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE THE
ONES THAT BASICALLY GIVE US ACTIVITIES.
AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ACTIVITIES.
>> ACTIVITIES LIKE WHAT? >> JOB SEARCH.
WORK EXPERIENCE. VOLUNTEERING.
THERE'S ONLY THREE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT WILL FUND A
BUS TICKET OR TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S JOB SEARCH, AND WORK EXPERIENCE, AND GOING TO
SCHOOL, I BELIEVE. THE REST ARE NOT FUNDED.
LIKE IF YOU WERE TO VOLUNTEER, OR GET COUNSELING
TO IMPROVE YOURSELF, THEY'RE NOT --
>> TO WORK ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES?
>> YES, OR SELF ESTEEM, OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
LIKE TRAUMATIC PTSD FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES, SOME TYPE
OF COUNSELING IS NEEDED TO HELP THIS PERSON ALONG TO
IMPROVE THEMSELVES. >> AS YOU PURSUE THE TASK
FORCE, SENATOR RYAN, IN ADDITION TO THE AGENCIES
COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COLLABORATING, WILL
THEY BE SEEKING INPUT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY
THIS ISSUE? >> OUR LEGISLATION ALSO
INCLUDED CLIENTS, AND THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN
DETERMINING HOW WE RESOLVE AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
>> AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WE HAVE JUST
FINISHED DOING OUR COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR
PLAN, AND THE WAY WE DID IT WAS THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS,
COMMUNITY GROUPS, PROVIDERS AND USERS OF SERVICES COMING
TOGETHER AND GIVING US INFORMATION.
WHEN WE WANTED TO DO WAS PRIORITIZE THE WAY WE SPEND
OUR DOLLARS. CERTAINLY THE HUGE NEED IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I LOVE WHAT DIANA HAS TO SAY
ABOUT THE VACANT HOUSES THAT COULD BE USED FOR FAMILIES.
I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS OF HANDLING IT, ALSO.
I'M JUST READING SOME INFORMATION OUT OF DETROIT
AND HOW NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PURCHASE
HOUSES THAT ARE VACANT, AND FIX THEM UP EITHER
COMMERCIALLY OR BY VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, AND THEN OFFER THEM
TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO THINK
ABOUT THOSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> IF DETROIT CAN DO THAT, AND THEY HAVE A SERIOUS
HOUSING PROBLEM, SURELY WE CAN DO THAT.
>> I THINK SO, TOO. >> IF WE THINK ABOUT EVEN
JUST DRIVING UP AND DOWN CENTRAL, AND SOME OF THOSE
HOTELS THAT ARE IN ILL REPAIR, DISUSE, THAT'S EASY
TRANSITIONAL. NO ONE WOULD WANT TO MAKE
THAT PERMANENT, BUT EASY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING STOCK
THAT WE COULD USE BETTER. AS I THINK ABOUT MAYBE SOME
LOW HANGING FRUIT, THERE'S TWO AREAS THAT JUMP OUT, AND
ONE IS FUNDING, THE REHABILITATION OF THOSE
THROUGH THE MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY.
I THINK, TO BE HONEST, THAT ORGANIZATION DOES A LOT OF
GOOD, AND A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS RUN THROUGH THAT
ORGANIZATION, AND YOU HAVE TO KIND OF JUST CALL IT LIKE
IT IS AND SAY THAT WE SHOULD FUND THEM MORE.
I THINK WE GET A VERY HIGH RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT FOR
DOING THAT. THE SECOND THING I THINK IS,
THIS FORMULA THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE USE FOR,
YOU KNOW, ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, THERE'S AN
ISSUE WITH MEANS TESTING, SO THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A
DISINCENTIVE TO DO THINGS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
LIKE IF YOU WANT TO GET ENGLISH LESSONS, IF YOUR
ENGLISH ISN'T THAT GOOD, THAT DOESN'T COUNT AS
EDUCATION. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN
ISSUE. OR IF YOU NEED A CAR TO DO
YOUR INTERVIEWS AND SO FORTH, IF YOU BUY THAT, ALL
OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE AN ASSET THAT YOU HAVE TO
SUBTRACT FROM YOUR SCORE. WE NEED TO MAKE IT SO THAT
FOLKS WHO ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE REWARDED FOR
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT THE
CASE. YOU ARE FINANCIALLY
PENALIZED FROM MAKING THOSE DECISIONS RIGHT NOW.
>> AND ALSO, JUST SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK WOULD
COST A LOT OF MONEY IS FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO ACTUALLY
TALK TO EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY LIKE SOCIAL
SERVICES. I HAVE A FAMILY WHO HAS JUST
GRADUATED AND THEY'RE IN HOUSING, AND SHE'S WORKING
FULL-TIME, BUT TO KEEP HER CHILD CARE VOUCHERS AND HER
FOOD STAMPS, SHE HAS HAD TO GO TO THE CHILD CARE OFFICE,
AND THEN GO TO THE FOOD STAMP OFFICE, AND THEY WON'T
CALL EACH OTHER. SO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK,
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THE FAX FROM THEM.
SO BACK TO THE OTHER OFFICE. SHE HAS HAD TO TAKE OFF, SHE
SAID, FOUR DAYS THIS MONTH TO HAVE TO GO TO DIFFERENT
APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THEY WON'T CALL.
I'M LIKE, THAT DOESN'T COST A LOT OF MONEY FOR YOU TO
CALL AND SAY, DID YOU GET MY FAX?
TO SHUTTLE PEOPLE AROUND, THAT'S TAKING ALL THE TIME.
>> JUST WAITING FOR THE BUS TAKES HOW MANY HOURS OUT OF
A DAY. >> ARE THERE INEFFICIENCIES
THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED? >> GOVERNMENT, IN AND OF
ITSELF, IS VERY INEFFICIENT. I MEAN, YOU TALK TO AGENCY
HEADS, AND THESE AGENCIES DON'T HAVE THE SAME
COMPUTERS AS THESE ONES. THEY JUST DON'T TALK TO EACH
OTHER. A PRIVATE SECTOR MODEL THAT
IS MORE LIKE A ONE-STOP SHOP THAT YOU CAN GO TO, AND THAT
PERSON IS GOING TO ASSESS YOUR NEEDS.
IS IT HOUSING? IS IT TRANSPORTATION?
IS IT WRITING YOUR RESUME? IS IT YOUR PRESENTATION?
WHAT DO YOU NEED? AND ONCE THEY MAKE THE
ASSESSMENT, THEN THEY DIRECT THEM TO THE PROGRAMS THAT
THEY KNOW WORK AND THAT HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.
THAT KIND OF MODEL, I THINK, IS MORE APPROPRIATE.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND TALKING.
I KNOW IT'S A REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUE, AND I
APPRECIATE YOU ALL SHARING YOUR STORIES.
I KNOW THAT'S DIFFICULT, AND SITTING AND TALKING WITH US.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING ON PUBLIC SQUARE.
>> THANK YOU.