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The Board of Santa Fe County Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2016-13, a Resolution in Support of Behavioral Health Disabled Homeless Help Funding during the January 26, 2016 meeting.  The Board also approved the Stepping Up Initiative Resolution 2015-66, Supporting the National Stepping Up Initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails and signing on to the initiative's call to action.  Through the Stepping Up initiative, the National Association of Counties, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the American Psychiatric Foundation are encouraging public, private and nonprofit partners to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails.

On January 20, 2016, Commissioner Chavez, Chairman of the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners, welcomed county officials from throughout the State of New Mexico to the 2016 New Mexico Association of Counties (NMAC) Legislative Conference.  The annual Legislative Conference helps NMAC members present county perspectives to our legislators. 

During Commissioner Chavez’ comments, he focused primarily on the participation of Santa Fe County in the “Stepping Up Initiative” which was approved by the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners in April 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-66). 

“I was proud to represent the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners at this conference,” Commissioner Chavez said.  “I am very appreciative that I was permitted to call attention to this very important issue and that our neighboring counties seemed so receptive to the effort.”

Each year, there are an estimated 2 million people with serious mental illnesses admitted to jails across the nation. Once incarcerated, individuals with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a higher risk of returning to incarceration than those without these illnesses.  Through the Stepping Up Initiative, it has become apparent that there is a lack of “wrap around” support services for individuals with behavioral health issues following incarceration in jails.

New Mexico State Representative Tomas Salazar has sponsored House Bill 88 which would appropriate $2,500,000 for permanent supportive housing services, including case management services, life-skills training, housing counseling and rental assistance and other services to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with behavioral health-related disabilities obtain and maintain stable permanent housing.