santa fe safe outdoor space
safe outdoor space
Safe Outdoor Space (SOS) Timeline
- August 2022: Homelessness Townhall I
- December 2022: Homelessness Townhall II
- August 2022 - June 2023: Community Education Sessions
- July 2022: Las Cruces, NM Site Visit
- August - November 2022: Local, Regional, and National Provider Discussions
- March 2023: Aurora, CO Site Visit
- April 2023: SOS Resolution Approved
- December 2022 - January 2023: Emergency Shelter Units Solicitation Period
- May 2023: Emergency Shelter Unit Contract Approved
- June 2023: Emergency Shelter Units Delivered
- July – August 2023: SOS Owner/Operator Solicitation Period
- August – September 2023: Evaluation of Safe Outdoor Space Proposals
- October 2023: Owner/Operator Contract Approved
- October – November 2023: Safe Outdoor Space Owner Site Preparation
- November 2023: Launch of First Santa Fe Safe Outdoor Space
What is a Safe Outdoor Space (sos)?
Safe Outdoor Spaces are designated sites for temporary shelter and amenities that allow our unhoused neighbors to have a safe place to sleep while providing basic human necessities and assisting in resource connection. Sites are staffed 24/7, and as a best practice do not host more than 50 residents at a time at a single site.
When residents no longer have to worry about where they will sleep or how they will protect their personal belongings, they can begin to focus on taking steps toward stability and more permanent housing. Some Safe Outdoor Spaces such as Camp Hope in Las Cruces, NM, utilize tents, while others use rapid response shelters such as Pallet Shelters.
In cities around the nation, Safe Outdoor Spaces have brought security, safety, humanity, and solutions to communities struggling to ensure all neighbors have a safe place to rest at night. The model strives to place every resident into permanent housing, and it facilitates access to supports and services for employment, physical and mental health, substance abuse, and untreated trauma, including domestic violence.
What is a Safe Outdoor Space (sos)?
Safe Outdoor Spaces are designated sites for temporary shelter and amenities that allow our unhoused neighbors to have a safe place to sleep while providing basic human necessities and assisting in resource connection. Sites are staffed 24/7, and as a best practice do not host more than 50 residents at a time at a single site.
When residents no longer have to worry about where they will sleep or how they will protect their personal belongings, they can begin to focus on taking steps toward stability and more permanent housing. Some Safe Outdoor Spaces such as Camp Hope in Las Cruces, NM, utilize tents, while others use rapid response shelters such as Pallet Shelters.
In cities around the nation, Safe Outdoor Spaces have brought security, safety, humanity, and solutions to communities struggling to ensure all neighbors have a safe place to rest at night. The model strives to place every resident into permanent housing, and it facilitates access to supports and services for employment, physical and mental health, substance abuse, and untreated trauma, including domestic violence.
What is a Safe Outdoor Space (sos)?
Safe Outdoor Spaces are designated sites for temporary shelter and amenities that allow our unhoused neighbors to have a safe place to sleep while providing basic human necessities and assisting in resource connection. Sites are staffed 24/7, and as a best practice do not host more than 50 residents at a time at a single site.
When residents no longer have to worry about where they will sleep or how they will protect their personal belongings, they can begin to focus on taking steps toward stability and more permanent housing. Some Safe Outdoor Spaces such as Camp Hope in Las Cruces, NM, utilize tents, while others use rapid response shelters such as Pallet Shelters.
In cities around the nation, Safe Outdoor Spaces have brought security, safety, humanity, and solutions to communities struggling to ensure all neighbors have a safe place to rest at night. The model strives to place every resident into permanent housing, and it facilitates access to supports and services for employment, physical and mental health, substance abuse, and untreated trauma, including domestic violence.
Why can’t the unhoused just go to a shelter?
Emergency shelters are critical components of the homeless response system, but they are not the right solution for everyone who is currently unhoused. Many of our unhoused neighbors suffer from severe trauma, and a crowded indoor environment can feel very unsafe for some individuals.
Safe Outdoor Spaces are also more cost effective than the traditional emergency shelter model. Managed Communities can be built at a fraction of the cost of traditional homeless shelters and are proven to help people transition into permanent housing.
Finally, shelters tend to be a short-term option, whereas the managed camp allows unhoused neighbors to establish a residence and enjoy the safety and privacy of an individualized, resource-rich living space until they take the next step into housing and stability.
What effect will a Safe Outdoor Space have on the surrounding neighborhood?
Each managed camp works with surrounding neighbors to discuss how the Safe Outdoor Space can work with the already established community in neighborly ways to promote a positive community for all who live there. Often this is done through a Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), a document that outlines how SOS residents and housed neighbors can live peacefully together.
A recent study in Denver, which is host to multiple Safe Outdoor Spaces, found that despite fierce opposition and fears of rising crime rates, neighborhoods with Safe Outdoor Spaces did not see a rise in crime rates, and actually witnessed a reduction in calls to police.
What are the eligibility requirements for those who wish to move into a Safe Outdoor Space?
Each site, and the provider running it, gets the final say in eligibility and policies. That said, SOS sites are very “low barrier” by design. Managed SOS communities remove barriers for individuals who may be struggling with mental health, substances, or physical disabilities requiring ADA access. In addition, SOS communities are viable options for individuals who may feel unsafe indoors or in congregate settings. Violence, weapons, and public substance use is forbidden on site.
what is a pallet shelter?
Pallet is a company based in Everett, Washington, that specializes in rapid response shelter villages to address unsheltered homelessness across the United States. When coordinated with volunteers, shelter villages can be built in a matter of days, and each individual shelter provides a locking door, sleeping bunks, electricity, and climate control.
Below is a video of a crew of volunteers and Pallet staff setting up a Pallet Shelter village in Aurora, Colorado.
Pallet Shelters were designed by the unhoused for the unhoused. The number one response nationally from those who have stayed in them is the feeling of safety from being able to lock the door and have secure space to sleep and store belongings.
further reading & resources
questions & additional feedback
We welcome your questions, comments, concerns and feedback regarding Safe Outdoor Spaces. Please email kathleen@goprojectmoxie.com and we’ll follow up with you directly.
Why can’t the unhoused just go to a shelter?
Emergency shelters are critical components of the homeless response system, but they are not the right solution for everyone who is currently unhoused. Many of our unhoused neighbors suffer from severe trauma, and a crowded indoor environment can feel very unsafe for some individuals.
Safe Outdoor Spaces are also more cost effective than the traditional emergency shelter model. Managed Communities can be built at a fraction of the cost of traditional homeless shelters and are proven to help people transition into permanent housing.
Finally, shelters tend to be a short-term option, whereas the managed camp allows unhoused neighbors to establish a residence and enjoy the safety and privacy of an individualized, resource-rich living space until they take the next step into housing and stability.
What effect will a Safe Outdoor Space have on the surrounding neighborhood?
Each managed camp works with surrounding neighbors to discuss how the Safe Outdoor Space can work with the already established community in neighborly ways to promote a positive community for all who live there. Often this is done through a Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), a document that outlines how SOS residents and housed neighbors can live peacefully together.
A recent study in Denver, which is host to multiple Safe Outdoor Spaces, found that despite fierce opposition and fears of rising crime rates, neighborhoods with Safe Outdoor Spaces did not see a rise in crime rates, and actually witnessed a reduction in calls to police.
What are the eligibility requirements for those who wish to move into a Safe Outdoor Space?
Each site, and the provider running it, gets the final say in eligibility and policies. That said, SOS sites are very “low barrier” by design. Managed SOS communities remove barriers for individuals who may be struggling with mental health, substances, or physical disabilities requiring ADA access. In addition, SOS communities are viable options for individuals who may feel unsafe indoors or in congregate settings. Violence, weapons, and public substance use is forbidden on site.
what is a pallet shelter?
Pallet is a company based in Everett, Washington, that specializes in rapid response shelter villages to address unsheltered homelessness across the United States. When coordinated with volunteers, shelter villages can be built in a matter of days, and each individual shelter provides a locking door, sleeping bunks, electricity, and climate control.
Below is a video of a crew of volunteers and Pallet staff setting up a Pallet Shelter village in Aurora, Colorado.
Pallet Shelters were designed by the unhoused for the unhoused. The number one response nationally from those who have stayed in them is the feeling of safety from being able to lock the door and have secure space to sleep and store belongings.
further reading & resources
questions & additional feedback
We welcome your questions, comments, concerns and feedback regarding Safe Outdoor Spaces. Please email kathleen@goprojectmoxie.com and we’ll follow up with you directly.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Support the S3 Santa Fe
Housing Initiative.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Support the S3 Santa Fe
Housing Initiative.