SANTA FE, December 14, 2023 –The Governing Body has approved a pilot agreement with Christ Lutheran Church and The Life Link to provide housing to unsheltered individuals through the Safe Outdoor Space (SOS) pilot program.

The program features 10 modest-sized (8' x 8') housing known as "pallet shelters" that will be placed at Christ Lutheran Church on Arroyo Chamiso. The name "pallet" refers to the modular design of the dwellings and the ability for the units to be deconstructed onto pallets for easier transportation. Once built, the house will have space for two individuals, insulated walls, electricity, heating and cooling, and a locking door that provides residents a comfortable, secure, and dignified shelter. The Life Link will provide supportive services and navigation to housing.

"The SOS project is an important option for people struggling with homelessness who do not currently access our existing emergency shelters. This project was also made stronger with valuable input from people with lived experience of homelessness in Santa Fe," said Kyra Ochoa, director Community Health and Safety Department.

The housing site aims to provide unhoused individuals with a place to safely reside, have their basic human needs met, and connect them with community resources that will help them achieve long-term stability and a pathway toward permanent housing.

"I know that when people start using these pallet homes, they will begin to feel better about themselves as well as feel a sense of normalcy in their lives. They can begin getting their lives back in order," said Nechay Gustobov, chairman Lived Experience Advisory Board. 

"The pallet shelter project is a significant step towards providing dignified alternatives for households grappling with housing insecurity," said Kathleen Van Voorhis, vice president Project Moxie, a partner organization. "The collaboration between the City of Santa Fe, Anchorum, Project Moxie, Christ Lutheran, and Life Link fills a crucial gap in our city's continuum of care."

The hub of the partner network supporting this project is the S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative, which relies on local "helping hands" to incorporate Built for Zero principles, a movement to measurably and equitably end homelessness.

Additional S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative partner organizations include the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Thornburg Foundation, Santa Fe County, and the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.

Sample images of the shelter model to be used in the pilot, courtesy of the manufacturer (Pallet).