Jamie Michael, director of Doña Ana County Health and Human Services, told the county commission on Dec. 9 that the county is moving forward with a transitional supportive housing project planned for Motel Boulevard and presented a Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute operations and management plan.

Meadows representatives said the model couples short‑term housing and subsidies with on‑site staff, case management and wraparound supports aimed at transitioning residents to permanent housing. Ruth, a Meadows presenter, described the facility operations plan as one that "provides clear roles and responsibilities across all of the partners involved," and stressed that the plan is a living document to be updated as the program grows.

The consulting team described safety and staffing measures: tenant eligibility reviews, leases with eviction‑prevention supports, on‑site staff during business hours and recommended security coverage on weeknights and 24/7 response protocols for weekends and holidays. The program will train staff in trauma‑informed practices and coordinate behavioral health access through partner agencies.

Financial assumptions include an average length of stay of about 4.5 months, an assumed 90% occupancy and a planning assumption of roughly 36 individuals served per year. Meadows’ five‑year pro forma projects total operating expenses of approximately $400,000 in year one and about $468,000 in year five; the net funding gap is described as typical for supportive housing and would be covered through a combination of Medicaid billing, vouchers and grants.

Monica Tyson of Meadows said the county should maximize use of New Mexico’s 11‑15 Medicaid waiver to cover clinical and reentry services. Jamie Michael added the county is seeking a $2 million mini‑grant under the Behavioral Health Reinvestment and Reform Investment Act and has also set aside opioid settlement funds to support operations. Meadows staff said the 11‑15 waiver was being implemented first in state correctional facilities and that local implementation timing is uncertain but expected within several months.

Commissioners asked about the impact of reduced Medicaid enrollment and how quickly reentry services will link to detention services. Meadows and county staff said reentry supports are already connecting people while the county and state continue to pursue broader 11‑15 waiver use to expand coverage for treatment services tied to reentry. Jamie Michael said behavioral health treatment would rely on Medicaid and other funding sources while operations and facility costs would require county planning and external funding.

The presentation concluded with staff saying the plan and pro forma will guide sustainability work, including pursuing state and federal grants and aligning with the waiver; commissioners did not take a formal action on the item that day and asked staff to return with further details as funding applications advance.