Bernalillo County has agreed to become a landlord to a nonprofit organization that helps families of incarcerated people.
But some staff say it’ll take more workers – and money – to acquire and manage more real estate.
The Bernalillo County Commission voted unanimously during its Tuesday meeting to pay $1,241,490 for a property near Wyoming Boulevard and Indian School Road NE. The site will be the new home to the Albuquerque office of Wings for Life International, a nonprofit organization that works with families of those who are incarcerated.
The money for the purchase came from a state capital outlay grant the organization received last year. Bernalillo County agreed to be the fiscal agent for the grant after Wings for Life responded to a 2023 request for proposals for capital outlay funding, said Kathy Korte, the county’s chief of government affairs.
Wings for Life is now expected to enter a lease agreement with the county for a6,945-square-foot space at 2051 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Outgoing property owners Christopher and Holly Ann Frost last month signed a nonbinding letter of intent to sell the building to the county.
Korte said the county’s ownership of the building would allow it to make improvements to the property under the state’s antidonation clause.
However, she said, the county runs the risk of creating too large a workload, which would mean her staff would need to expand.
“The challenge my team and I have – and of course, I would welcome further discussions with the Commission – is what is the extent of ownership we are willing to take on on behalf of nonprofits,” Korte said.
She said she generally tells nonprofits the county is not willing to take on land or building purchases and is unable to take on renovations of properties it doesn’t own.
“If Wings for Life seeks any renovations, etc., to the building, the county can assist Wings for Life in doing the work if Wings for Life secures more capital outlay funding for the project,” she wrote in an email Wednesday.
Pulled for discussion
The purchase was originally on the consent agenda, which typically contains routine items and is approved without discussion.
However, Commission Vice Chair Eric Olivas pulled it, saying he wanted commissioners to discuss how they might handle such issues going forward.
“It generates that precedent, and it also puts us on the hook for future improvements to the property, future maintenance to the property,” Olivas said. “What if this provider decides they don’t want this anymore? They move on? We’re stuck with a building. We’re not landlords. We’re not really in the business of that. So then what do we do with it?”
Commissioner Adriann Barboa suggested the county get outside help for funding.
“I wouldn’t vote to ever stop doing this, because it’s part of the social safety net,” she said. “But I know that we need the staff to cover. We should get money from the state for that, and we should prioritize it in our budgets as well.”
About Wings for Life
The organization, Wings for Life, offers support to families affected by incarceration and, according to its website, serves a marginalized and often forgotten population, such as the families of prisoners.
While other programs focus on rehabilitating inmates, the Wings for Life approach aims to empower the families of inmates by equipping them with life skills and education. That strategy includes sharing coping mechanisms young people can use to reduce at-risk behaviors, and ultimately take control of their lives, according to the organization.
Outside of Albuquerque, Wings for Life provides weekly educational programs in the East Mountains, Española, Farmington, Santa Fe and Las Cruces.
Correction: A previous version of this story included an inncorrect address for the new building the county is buying.