Santa Fe council approves $2 million to buy microcommunity units amid heated public debate

The City of Santa Fe on Jan. 29 approved a $2,000,000 budget amendment to purchase microcommunity (“pallet”) shelter units and related site planning work, a step city staff said is intended to expand non‑congregate housing options while staff pursue operators and community‑based sites.

The action (agenda item 11b) reallocated funds that had previously been set aside for acquiring buildings and directed them toward mobile or modular non‑congregate shelter solutions, the city’s Community Health and Safety director, Henry Hammond Paul, told the governing body. The council approved the move by roll call; the vote on the budget amendment was recorded as unanimous.

Hammond Paul said the city has used a pilot model at Christ Lutheran Church since April 2024 and described microcommunities as temporary, staffed units with wraparound services and 24‑hour supervision. He said the current objective is to secure operators and, where appropriate, land — either privately offered sites from faith‑based…