CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FIRST COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S R-14-73 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton and Brad Winter
RESOLUTION
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F/S Supporting A Project With Bernalillo County For The Purpose Of Implementing A Housing Assistance Program For Persons With Mental Illness Being Released From The Metropolitan Detention Center (Benton, Winter)
body
SUPPORTING A PROJECT WITH BERNALILLO COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING A HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS BEING RELEASED FROM THE METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER.
WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted M-14-5 affirming the seriousness of the mental health crisis within the State of New Mexico and Bernalillo County; and
WHEREAS, a 2006 Bureau of Justice Statistics report estimated that 64% of persons who were incarcerated had a mental health problem; and
WHEREAS, there are approximately 970 individuals on the Psych Services Unit caseload at the Metropolitan Detention Center; and
WHEREAS, several studies have shown that mental illness among incarcerated persons is associated with higher incidences of homelessness and that these individuals have mental health and substance abuse issues at 10% - 22% higher rates than incarcerated persons without prior homelessness; and
WHEREAS, persons incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center receive physical and mental health care but upon release these services often are no longer available; and
WHEREAS, the County of Bernalillo is desirous of collaborating with the City of Albuquerque in providing housing, behavioral health and social services to persons with mental illness upon release from the Metropolitan Detention Center; and
WHEREAS, the City is committed to participating with the County in providing critically needed services to those persons being released from the Metropolitan Detention Center; and
WHEREAS, the City has significant experience in administering housing programs based on the Housing First model; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, through M-14-5, has established a Task Force that will identify needs and opportunities for service strategies that will benefit our community, including addressing the mental health crisis and homelessness.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. That the City Council is committed to a collaborative effort with the County of Bernalillo to improve services for persons who are being released from the Metropolitan Detention Center and are homeless and experiencing mental health issues.
Section 2. That in addition to those persons being released from incarceration, there are a yet-to-be determined number of people who are homeless who also suffer from mental illness and are in need of housing and supportive services. The City Council is also committed to applying its resources to meet the needs of the homeless and persons with mental illness not addressed by the proposed project.
Section 3. That the City Council is also committed to the transparent, objective and collaborative process outlined in M-14-5 involving the Task Force and Working Group to develop strategies and provide the City Council with recommendations regarding services and programs that will benefit not only our community but especially people with mental health issues.
Section 4. That the City Council will determine the exact amount of its participation in the County program upon receipt of the recommendations from the Task Force and the Working Group.
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