The New Mexico state legislative session ended March 16 with exciting news for advocates for the homeless and affordable housing. The legislature passed the General Appropriations Act, the state budget bill, which includes a $200,000 funding increase for homeless programs. At about 20%, the commitment represents the first increase to homeless programs in more than eight years. Advocates are now working to gain support from Governor Susana Martinez (R), who must sign the Act by April 5 and has the ability to line-item veto the increase.In 2012, NLIHC state coalition partner New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH) spearheaded the campaign to increase funding for the state’s Rapid Re-Housing and Housing Stability Performance Awards programs, and held this as its top legislative priority for the 2013 session (see Memo, 9/21/2012). Prior to the session, advocates met with key legislators to urge strong funding for the programs and developed a proactive communications strategy that focused on the effectiveness of the each program in advancing housing outcomes for those experiencing homelessness. NMCEH organized 85 of its members for its annual lobby day in January, at which participants met with dozens of legislators, many of whom expressed support for the two programs. Advocates were heartened when Senator Sander Rue (R) introduced a Senate memorial making January 23 “New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness Day” in the Senate. NMCEH believes that the public recognition of their steadfast advocacy for those experiencing homelessness highlighted the credibility of the organization, which helped with their outreach to legislative offices. Advocates then targeted their outreach to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, which was responsible for drafting the first version of the budget. Although members of the committee reported they had received numerous calls and emails from advocates, the House passed a budget with no additional funding for homeless programs.Undeterred, NMCEH shifted its focus to the Senate Finance Committee, and through a series of action alerts, urged advocates to both call and email committee members to ask for additional funding for Rapid Re-Housing and Housing Stability Performance Awards. The work of the NMCEH and its members was evidenced when the Senate Finance Committee included a $200,000 increase and the bill was adopted by the full Senate, and later included in the reconciled budget as an increase to the general homeless programs line item. If Governor Martinez accepts the increase, advocates will work with the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority to make sure the funds are directed to the two programs, as the bill does not specify the homeless programs to which the increase should go. During the session, NMCEH also supported SB 124, a bill that would have added crimes committed against people because they are homeless to the state’s hate crimes statute. The bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly with a 29 to 5 vote in the last week of the session, but there was not enough time for it to be considered in the House. Advocates are hopeful that the bill will go further in the next session. “Thanks to the hard work of our members, we were able to increase funding for programs that end homelessness,” said Lisa Huval NMCEH’s policy and advocacy director. “Thanks to this increase hundreds of New Mexican families will be able to obtain and remain in housing.”For more information contact Lisa Huval at [email protected].