Our Mission:
To prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the quality of life for people with behavioral health issues in New Mexico by creating affordable, supportive housing in partnership with local communities and member agencies.

History:
The Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico (SHC-NM), formerly the Albuquerque Mental Health Housing Coalition, was founded in 1996 in response to local service providers’ recognition of a community-wide gap in safe and affordable housing for homeless and near-homeless persons with behavioral health disorders. Many of these providers are significant collaborators in our mission of preventing and reducing homelessness. SHC-NM continues to work with Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, St. Martin’s Hospitality Center, Transitional Living Services and the University of New Mexico Psychiatric Center among others.

SHC-NM has demonstrated leadership and expertise in affordable supportive housing development for special needs populations in New Mexico. The organization has leveraged over $16 million in funding for housing developments, targeted to low income and special needs populations, and Housing First programs that provide apartment homes for chronically homeless people with behavioral health diagnoses. Financial partners include New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, City of Albuquerque Family & Community Services Department, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and Enterprise Community Partners.

Housing First:
Housing First is a nationally recognized “best practice,” endorsed by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. It is an intervention that moves people off the street into stable, affordable housing with supportive services to address mental health, substance abuse, health, and employment needs. Using the Housing First model, SHC-NM intentionally seeks out individuals and families that have experienced long term homelessness and serves those with the highest need and most vulnerability first. Priority populations are individual/families with serious health disorders that have experienced chronic homelessness. For more information visit our Housing First Resources page.

Collaboration:
SHC-NM has successfully spearheaded housing activities in coordination with Coalition member agencies, other collaborating partners, and the clients they serve. These community partners refer and place residents and offer a comprehensive range of supportive services to optimize the health, recovery, independence and housing stability of our residents. This formal collaboration enables SHC-NM and partnering agencies to pool resources, reduce competition, better coordinate service delivery, increase efficiencies, and embrace a broader strategy for creating supportive housing.

SHC-NM Services:
Tenant Based Rental Assistance Vouchers - SHC-NM works with over 150 participating private landlords in Albuquerque and is the primary provider of housing vouchers for the City of Albuquerque Heading Home Initiative. People who are homeless move in and stay in an apartment home paying no more than 30% of their incomes.

Move-in & Eviction Prevention – SHC-NM helps with one-time rental deposits and other expenses to support people in upfront expenses that often act as a barrier to renting an apartment home.

Crisis Housing – SHC-NM provides an apartment unit for up to 120 days for people discharged from hospitalization or incarceration.

SHC-NM Apartment Homes – SHC-NM owns and manages seven Apartment Home Complexes in Albuquerque, Gallup, and Las Vegas, New Mexico. Housing options range from micro-efficiencies to three bedroom units. 349 individuals and families pay below-market rents to live in a SHC-NM apartment home in mixed-income complexes.

Supportive Services - SHC-NM partners with local supportive service agencies to provide the “wraparound” services critical to maintaining housing stability. Service Coordinators at our SHC-NM complexes provide guidance to our residents in selecting appropriate services.