Santa Fe council designates 2395 Richards Ave. for a family-focused micro community, adds reporting and review requirements

The Santa Fe City Council voted June 11 to designate city-owned property at 2395 Richards Avenue as the site for a micro community aimed primarily at families with children and youth. The governing body approved language prioritizing family use, requiring the site to be drug- and alcohol-free except for physician-prescribed medication, mandating biannual reports to the council and requiring council reauthorization if the micro community is to continue beyond three years.

The decision formalizes staff direction to pursue site planning, permitting and community engagement for an on-site, staffed micro community that city officials say will add roughly 30–50 housing units (about 60 beds) to the city’s shelter system. Community Health and Safety Director Henry Hammond-Paul told the council the city has about 400 people on its “by-name” homelessness list and roughly 280 shelter beds, and said the micro community model helps people stabilize and move into permanent housing.

Hammond-Paul said the city will pursue detailed design, safety…