Doña Ana County outlines transitional supportive housing plan for people leaving jail; commissioners signal support to pursue funding

County Health and Human Services Director Jamie Michael presented a two‑phase plan on Jan. 28 for transitional supportive housing aimed at people leaving the county jail who lack stable housing and have behavioral‑health or substance‑use needs. Michael said the county already owns two modular buildings and two acres of land on Motel Boulevard that the department proposes to repurpose as Phase 1 congregate housing and outdoor living space.

Michael said the project responds to a documented need: county review of a 12‑month period showed 450 misdemeanor bookings where the arrestees listed no home address. She also cited diversion‑program data showing substantial housing need: of 69 people in Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) 30% had housing needs, 185 participants in the RISE reentry program had 35% with housing needs, and a competency diversion pilot showed about 44% needed housing support.

The county contracted Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute to help design the project. Meadows consultant José Lachica described the model as short‑term (six‑month) transitional housing with on‑site peer support and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) services to stabilize people while they move to longer‑term housing. Nicole Martinez of Mesilla Valley Community of Hope said her organization can provide tenant and case management services and is running a RESET pilot that provides six months of rental assistance for people exiting incarceration; La Clinica de Familia said it can provide medical and behavioral health services, including ACT.

Facilities Director Robert Herrera presented cost and schedule estimates for Phase 1: the county has $900,000 on hand and used $300,000 to purchase the site; the county applied for an additional $750,000 from the state for landscaping, sidewalks and lighting, and staff requested a supplemental $1.3 million to prepare the property for the modular buildings, parking and furnishings. Herrera said the higher estimate reflects geotechnical findings showing clay soils that may require excavation or engineered foundation work; the county will seek engineers to refine costs.

County staff described Phase 1 as repurposing two modular buildings (each about 1,500 square feet and each able to house four residents) to provide eight beds with shared living areas and extensive outdoor space. Phase 2 would be a new two‑story building with additional units and space for on‑site services; a preliminary cost estimate for Phase 2 was about $7.4 million.

Commissioners asked for more detailed, final designs and for clearer program and operating budgets. Michael asked the commission to authorize staff to bring a budget revision and resolution to fund the $1.3 million Phase 1 needs; after discussion commissioners indicated general support and asked staff to return with a formal budget amendment in February or March. Commissioner Reynolds asked that the final site and building plans show deliberate use of outdoor areas and involvement of people with lived experience in final design.

Public commenters included Athena Huckaby, who said grassroots housing funds are in constant demand and praised the county plan; Angelica Calderon, executive director of a nearby children’s services nonprofit, asked for transparency and neighborhood safety measures because the project abuts the children's services site. A local psychiatric‑mental‑health nurse supported the trauma‑informed design described by Meadows.

Ending: No appropriation was adopted at the Jan. 28 meeting. County staff will return with a budget revision and resolution for Phase 1 financing and a refined design and project timeline; commissioners gave direction to staff to proceed with engineering, grant applications and partner contracts while returning for formal budget approval.