SHC-NM Welcomes Karen Anderson as Director of Asset and Property Management

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Karen Anderson

Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico is pleased to welcome Karen Anderson as its Director of Asset and Property Management. Ms. Anderson has vast experience in affordable housing programs. A former realtor from California, she has also worked at housing authorities in public housing and Section 8 as a housing manager and Housing Quality Standards inspector. Since relocating to New Mexico, Ms. Anderson oversaw the day-to-day property management functions for a non-profit organization in Albuquerque. Most recently, she was employed by MFA where she performed quality control inspections for the NM Energy$mart Program, conducted compliance monitoring reviews of low income tax credit, HOME, RTC, and HUD subsidized properties for the Asset Management Department, and managed the Emergency Homeless Assistance Program for the Community Development Department. Ms. Anderson graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Mexico and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Communication. Ms. Anderson oversees SHC’s entire property portfolio and supervises Site Managers and Maintenance Technicians at each of our properties. She is certified as a HOME Program Specialist, Healthy Homes Specialist, and Housing Compliance Manager, and has earned the following industry designations: HCCP, NCP-E, CMH, and AHM.

SCH-NM Receives $1,000 Grant

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SHC-NM Receives Grant from the
Jack and Mary Gilliam Endowment Fund

SHC-NM is pleased to announce that SHC-NM has received a $1,000 grant from the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s “Giving Together” program. The full amount of this grant was donated by the Jack and Mary Gilliam Endowment Fund. The funds will be used to provide housing for people with behavioral health diagnoses who are experiencing homelessness and to provide the wrap-around supportive services critical to maintaining housing stability.

 

My Love Story

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My Love Story

by Anna

Surrender into the memory
of what once was,
and could no longer be….
You sit in the shadow of sorrow,
seeking, searching for the magic
that will make the pain
go away….
Behold, you will sit in the
radiant arms of the Son, without
sorrow no longer, searching for
the magic that will make the pain
go away…..
ready to love,
to smile,
to sing,
to give
to heal again
and you will have stopped
asking why—
This winter of your life
will pass
as all seasons do….
It will take
as long as it takes….
Remember how deserving
you are
of gentleness, kindness, lovingness
and givingness
No one ever said it was easy
to let go, let be, let life do
what it is supposed to do.
When you live fully, your vulnerability
takes you….
through the shadows of winter
where you feel you may never see the
sun again….
For the invisible glory of spirit
will be your greatest power…
with which to heal…

Journey to Recovery

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In 2010, Anna had it all. She owned a home and two cars and was “living the ‘American Dream’” with her long-time life partner. Tragedy struck when she and her partner of 14 years both lost their jobs and could no longer afford their home. After foreclosing on their home, filing for bankruptcy, and losing her truck to repossession, Anna liquidated everything she owned to stay afloat. But nothing could stop the downward spiral that resulted in a period of homelessness and loss that lasted nearly 4 years.

Life as a woman experiencing homelessness was one of uncertainty, fear, loneliness, and despair. “I was too busy feeling sorry for myself to help myself. I gave up. It doesn’t take long when you are sleeping on the streets,” describes Anna. Then came the drugs and alcohol. “I told myself that I was not going to do [homelessness] sober.” Anna started using anything that came her way to cope with the terror of being on the streets. “I tried to kill myself three times. I was so angry when I woke up, still alive.”One day, Anna was sleeping outside of the Albuquerque Rescue Mission when she took advantage of free donuts and coffee offered by St. Martin’s. “I talked to a guy named John, who ended up being my case manager.” He suggested she go see Dorothee from Heading Home. Shortly after, Anna qualified for a housing voucher from the Supportive Housing Coalition.“It took me a year to recover,” explains Anna. “I slept on the couch for a long time. I didn’t know how long [being housed] was going to last. I stayed in the house with the shades and door closed. I didn’t leave unless to go get groceries.”

Eventually, with the support of her case manager, SHC-NM, and Heading Home, Anna started to trust her new situation - being permanently housed is now her new reality. “I told myself I could [avoid] everything and run or face everything and recover. Well now I am fully recovered, I am okay, I am safe.” Anna is currently going to school and is starting to “give back” as a member of the Tenant Advisory Committee for SHC-NM.

“I am doing all the right things. I’m not using, I am recovering from the physical issues homelessness caused. But my faith is what really pulls me through. You guys are heaven sent. If it wasn’t for you and free coffee and donuts that morning, I would not be here today. I don’t care if I can’t buy material things. I have a bed to sleep in.”

U.S. Bank Awards Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico $2,500 Grant for Homelessness Service-Learning Project

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Angela Hartill (left) and Casey Bresnahan (right) of U.S. Bank present the Foundation grant to Robin Dozier Otten, interim executive director of SHC-NM

December 7, 2015

The U.S. Bank Foundation recently awarded Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico (SHC-NM) a $2,500 grant for its Housing First! The Key is Housing Service-Learning Project.

The service-learning project is an advocacy and educational program piloted by SHC-NM that provides education to elementary, middle, and high school students about homelessness and the most effective intervention for preventing and reducing homelessness, Housing First. Housing First is a nationally recognized “best practice” that moves people off the street into stable, affordable housing with supportive services to address mental health, substance abuse, and employment needs. The students will learn about Housing First and have an opportunity to participate in a service project to benefit people experiencing homelessness. The pilot program for the project will begin in Albuquerque public and private schools in January of 2016.

SHC-NM is currently seeking business partners and schools to participate in the program. “This is truly a collaborative project,” states Robin Dozier Otten, interim executive director of SCH-NM, “we are partnering with teachers, schools, and businesses and other nonprofits to provide a unique learning experience to students, our future decision makers, about the issue of homelessness. This grant from U.S. Bank is a great first step.”

On any given night, nearly 1,300 people experience homelessness in Albuquerque. Research indicates that Housing First is effective at both quickly placing and maintaining people in housing and at reducing the costs associated with the use of emergency services and engagement with the criminal justice system. Findings from a 2013 City of Albuquerque Heading Home Cost Study reported that in one year, the City of Albuquerque saved 31.6%, emergency room visits decreased by 36.2%, jail costs decreased 64.2%, hospital inpatient costs decreased by 83.8% and medical outpatient costs decreased by 39.1% after housing.

SHC-NM has been on the forefront of the Housing First model since 2005. Established in 1996, Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico’s mission is to prevent and reduce homelessness in New Mexico and to 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.