The Albuquerque City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Monday night that creates an 11-member working group tasked with reforming the city’s emergency voucher program and addressing the blighted motels where they are often used.
Councilors Renée Grout and Nichole Rogers said they sponsored the bill because the city’s blighted motels not only pose a health and safety risk to the public at large, but to vulnerable individuals and families using vouchers for a free night or extended stay.
Vouchers are considered a lifeline while stable housing is sought for those who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless due to evictions or natural disasters. The vouchers are also used in incidents of domestic violence.
In addition, Grout and Rogers said the voucher program needs more oversight to make sure it’s effective for those it’s intended to serve.
“We look forward to hearing all ideas and developing actionable steps to support hospitality businesses and make sure that the motels in every neighborhood are clean and safe,” Grout said in a statement.
Grout and Rogers have previously said increased code and ordinance enforcement at blighted motels is an option as well as city programs designed to assist operators having health and safety issues.
“This renewed approach to finding solutions will help reimagine our collective response to an emergent need,” Rogers said in a statement. “The ordinance engages almost every city department to work together with both industry leaders and community members with lived experience. The goal is to implement real solutions that will help those experiencing trauma while stimulating the hospitality business sector.”
The group is expected to have its initial meeting in the next 30 days and meet twice a week thereafter. It has six months to issue findings and recommendations to the City Council and mayor’s office.
For more, read: “City councilors say emergency voucher program needs more oversight.”