Santa Fe council delays $2 million shift to non‑congregate shelter plan after questions on sites, costs and community engagement

Santa Fe city leaders voted to delay deciding whether to move $2,000,000 from general fund balance into construction work in progress for non‑congregate sheltering projects after an extended public and council discussion about sites, costs and community engagement.

The funding request, presented by Henry Hammond Paul, director of the Community Health and Services Department, would reallocate money set aside in a prior budget for purchase of a building and instead use the funds to stand up non‑congregate micro‑community shelter solutions — often called pallet shelters — and related auxiliary infrastructure.

Councilors pressed staff on details including where sites would be located, who would operate them, and how much the city must commit for the units and their set‑up. Paul said the city previously procured 40 pallet shelter units under an earlier contract, with 11 deployed at Christ Lutheran Church and the remainder in storage. He said an existing procurement allows the city to buy additional units at earlier contract prices even though vendor list prices have risen.

Paul and Julie…