By Richard Skolnik, Kim Taylor, Tyler Taylor
On Behalf of the Coalition

In recent months, a new interfaith group has been formed in Los Alamos County, with the goal of significantly reducing the high levels of homelessness in the Española area over the coming years. This Interfaith Coalition on Homelessness consists of representatives of seven houses of worship in Los Alamos County who share a deep commitment to helping our neighbors in difficult times:

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Los Alamos)
• The Los Alamos Jewish Center
• The Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church
• The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos
• The United Church of Los Alamos
• The United Methodist Church of Los Alamos
• The White Rock Presbyterian Church

Houses of worship in Española, and others in Los Alamos County, will hopefully be added to the Coalition in the coming months.

The model of the Coalition, which it approaches with humility and careful gathering of information, is to work with a few committed and accountable organizations in the Española Valley in impactful, cost-effective, and fair ways. Some aid will be financial. Other support will be in-kind, or in the time and talents of Coalition members. The group may also seek additional funding from large-scale organizations. Working with Espanola partners, the Coalition also hopes that it might enable better policies toward the unhoused and substance use disorders.

The coalition has been moved to work on these issues by several factors:

• The high rates of homelessness in Española, about 10-15 times higher than in Los Alamos
• The challenges the Española Pathways Shelter has been having in getting the resources needed to provide overnight stays and case management services for unhoused people
• The high rates of substance use disorders in Española and the extent to which this problem is an underlying cause of homelessness
• The economic prosperity in Los Alamos compared to the too often seen poverty and deprivation in Española
• The values of our faith groups, in the face of the above

As the Coalition explores avenues for longer-term support, it has decided to provide financial aid to the Espanola Pathways Shelter immediately, to help it restore its program for overnight stays.

This effort seeks to raise $10,000 for the Shelter:

• $5,000 for new linens, pillows, and blankets for 30 bunks with extras for replacement, etc.
• $5,000 to sustain shower and laundry programs for a year.

The Pathways Shelter will account separately for support from Los Alamos and White Rock congregations and individuals. The Coalition will, in turn, report to participating houses of worship on the impact of our support.

The Coalition is now launching its fundraising campaign for the above, with each participating congregation communicating about the timing and goals of the campaign with its own members.

If any congregations or individuals are interested in working with this Coalition, please contact Tyler Taylor at tylerinnm@aol.com.