There is Hope for the Homeless Young People in Northern New Mexico
DreamTree Project
hat is the message DreamTree Project wants to share. And a vital message it is, with young people especially vulnerable in Taos and El Norte. According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2020, 3,333 New Mexicans were homeless on any given day and 215 of those were young adults, aged 18-24. Public schools reported an estimated 11,574 NM public school students experienced homelessness during the 2018-2019 school year.
It is expected pandemic data will show even greater need. “A variety of scenarios contribute to youth visiting DreamTree,” says Stacey McGuire, DreamTree’s deputy director, including “housing instability, respite, various forms of trauma (such as abuse or human trafficking), lack of foster care statewide, and LGBTQIA+ experience.”
Opened in 2000, Taos-based nonprofit DreamTree Project offers 24-hour emergency shelter for young people (ages 12 to 17) in need of a safe place to
stay throughout Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, Taos and Union counties; and partners with other service providers and organizations to provide youth
specific services to meet their unique needs.
In addition to its emergency youth shelter, DreamTree offers transitional housing and resources for youth, ages 16 to 24. The program has recently
expanded, adding options in Española and Ratón as well as Taos. Young adults live independently in apartments while working and going to school, and work with their case managers to set goals, identify paths
to success, and learn valuable life skills such as cooking, budgeting, how to shop for a car and more.
McGuire said clients’ move-in support to independent housing includes essentials like pots and
pans, bedding and furnishings. Both monetary support and
donations of new or gently used household items are always welcome to assist in this process.
In 2021, DreamTree’s emergency youth shelter helped 58 young people and its transitional living program assisted 59 young people. In addition, its street outreach program offered support to over 225 youth and adults, and its community housing program assisted over 70 total community members in Northern New Mexico.
During the pandemic, DreamTree joined forces with HEART of Taos, Taos Men’s Shelter, Youth Heartline, Community Against Violence to name just a few, to establish Taos CARES Crisis Housing, a new emergency shelter
program in partnership with a local hotel – providing housing
and other services to over 100 men, women and families. The CARES program ended in July 2022; DreamTree, HEART and
other local partners are exploring options for a similarly focused emergency housing program for this coming winter season.
DreamTree executive director Catherine Hummel said collab
orations were especially beneficial during the pandemic where housing insecurity grew nationwide. Hummel said DreamTree
is able to assist other agencies financially through federal
grant money, like COVID-19 response funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“By being that fiscal lead agency, we’re able to bring in federal money, and share it among all the agencies, where a lot of the agencies don’t have
the administrative capacity to do that,” Hummel said.
In September 2020, DreamTree
Project began a collaborative AmeriCorps program in the Taos area. The Enchanted Circle Corps (ECC) is a partnership of local organizations coordinating and spreading
the word about the services and resources available to Taos County people, including
agricultural conservation, and education and career options for high school students and adults.
In 2015, DreamTree Project led early community discussions on the need for “permanent supportive housing,” Hummel said, noting it is
housing “primarily for adults who’ve been homeless for a long period of time.” It can also
be for youth, but it’s basically housing plus supportive
services. “Statistically, our need for permanent supportive housing is less than 100 units of housing, which is really doable.”
“If you or a young person you know is experiencing housing instability, housing insecurity or homelessness, please reach out to DreamTree,” says McGuire. “It is our pleasure and mission to help our community members – our family, friends
and neighbors – better access housing and supportive
services.”
Young people seeking shelter can call DreamTree Project at 575-758-9595, TEXT 575-770-7704 or come to the shelter at 128 La Posta Road in Taos. 128 La Posta Rd. Taos 575-758-9595 Main 575-770-7704 TEXT