Santa Fe Grants $1M to Urban Alchemy for Homeless Shelter Management

Cities across the U.S. are adopting varied approaches to address homelessness and housing insecurity. Santa Fe decided to terminate its lease with Interfaith, the longtime shelter operator, and bring in Urban Alchemy, a California-based nonprofit, aiming for a new management philosophy despite public frustration. In Santa Barbara, community leaders are urging the city council to allocate $5 million annually to a Local Housing Trust Fund, funded partly by a recent sales tax increase, to provide a sustainable resource for affordable housing projects. Meanwhile, San Jose officials emphasize the need to prioritize homelessness prevention, especially for families and children, as current shelter expansions risk overlooking this demographic and may redirect funds from affordable housing initiatives. On a personal level, Shantel Morris's experience of eviction and homelessness led her to establish Morris Mission, an organization supporting families through housing challenges by providing education and resources. These stories illustrate a national recognition that solving homelessness requires both systemic policy changes and grassroots support to address root causes and support vulnerable populations.