The challenges of homelessness and housing instability in the Santa Fe area are complex and long-standing, impacting the safety and well-being of our entire community.

The severity of issues and needs that homeless individuals and families present with create a situation that requires collective intention, creative solutions, collaborative will, and long-term commitment. Additionally, Santa Fe struggles with the overall lack of accessible, affordable housing options, and insufficient capacity to provide necessary supportive services for individuals in need.

The COVID-19 health pandemic brought additional awareness to the issue of homelessness and housing instability, and created an opportunity for government entities, politicians, non-profit service providers, private foundations, community volunteers, individuals with experience of homelessness, and other interested stakeholders to work collectively to address this long standing community issue. The S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative was built as a result of this opportunity.

To help understand the complexity of the issue and situations of individuals and families directly affected, experts nationwide have identified the following categories of homelessness:

Hidden Homelessness

The hidden homeless are people who access accommodation, though have no immediate prospect of permanent or stable housing. Includes individuals who may be “couch surfing” or temporarily staying with friends or family.

Situational Homelessness

Common causes include job loss, a healthcare emergency (which may lead to job loss or overwhelming medical bills), divorce, domestic abuse, fire, and natural disasters. These individuals are referred to as "situationally" or "temporarily" homeless which generally means that they have lived in stable housing without supports in the past and can do so again once a specific situation in their life is addressed.

Episodic Homelessness

Episodically homeless refers to individuals, often with disabling conditions, who are currently homeless and have experienced three or more episodes of homelessness in the past year. Among individuals in this group, jobs are less stable, housing costs consume a higher percentage of the household budget, and they have little or no financial buffers against emergencies.

Chronic Homelessness

An individual experiencing chronic homelessness is someone who has experienced homelessness for a year or longer, or who has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years (must be a cumulative of 12 months) and has a disability. Psychiatric diagnosis, substance use disorders, and medical comorbidities are more prevalent within chronically homeless populations.

A healthy and comprehensive homeless response system contains the various components illustrated in the diagram below:

By working together strategically, the S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative seeks to enhance support and develop real solutions for individuals and families in need.

The S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative is a collaborative effort between local governments and philanthropic organizations including Anchorum Health Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, Thornburg Foundation, City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico Coalition to End Homeless, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.