By Jesse Jones
Shortly after Homelessness in Sandoval County: A hidden crisis was published in the Sandoval Signpost, the city quietly cleaned up a Rio Rancho encampment and fixed damaged property, earning praise from nearby residents who had raised concerns.
The swift cleanup came after City of Vision resident John Pierce spoke out about safety and sanitation issues near a field near the Intel plant down the street from Rio Rancho Fire & Rescue Administration, where a large hole and makeshift camp had drawn growing concern.
The city’s response — filling the hole, repairing a wall, and clearing the area — was completed less than a month after the article ran, prompting visible change and renewed discussion about how Rio Rancho handles homelessness.
“It was like night and day,” Pierce said. “We went to Texas for a week, came back and it was done. Before that article, I saw a lot [of homeless people]. After, not so much. Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
According to Pierce, he credited the media coverage with raising awareness about public safety and homelessness in the city.
“Raising awareness helps,” he said. “I really think this homeless issue needs to be addressed with accountability.”
Pierce said he met with Mayor Gregg Hull and thanked him for getting the hole filled and the wall repaired. “They did a good job, and they did it fast,” he said. “I was very pleased.”
He said the change was clear. “There used to be six or seven people hanging around, all messed up. Now there’s nothing — day or night, you don’t see anyone.”
Pierce said he spoke with Hull about homelessness and shared an idea he once proposed while living in Florida — using instant drug tests to help distinguish between people who need support and those causing problems.
“I worked at a [The Clothes Closet And Food Pantry] for 10 years, and street people started chasing off the ones who really needed help,” he said. “The mayor seemed to think it was a good idea.”
Pierce said support should come with structure. “I’m not trying to be hurtful — everyone deserves a chance,” he said. “But if someone keeps showing up dirty or fails a drug test week after week, that’s a problem.”
He said Albuquerque has a model that works. “They let homeless people stay in a shelter as long as they work, stay clean and follow the rules,” he said. “Why can’t we do that here? We’ve got empty warehouses. Just lay out the rules and hold people to them.”
Pierce said he researched a similar program in Milwaukee, similar to Albuquerque’s.
“They have 20 or 30 shelter beds with rules — you can stay up to a year, but you have to follow the rules,” he said. “They help people get housing and pay bills, but you have to stay clean. They’re not paying for drugs.”
Pierce said a program like this could start at a church. “I don’t know the financial details, but our church sponsored an outreach center and the community donated food and supplies,” he said. “It was a good program until it got out of hand. We want to help the people who really need it.”
Pierce said it wouldn’t take much to start. “There are places in or near Rio Rancho that can house a few people,” he said. “Start small, like a test group for four months. Help them find jobs and transportation, then see how it goes.”
Asked if the city would support a program like this, he said, “I don’t know. There might be pushback. I need more people on board, maybe as a city councilman.”
Pierce says he is considering a City Council run to push for solutions that help those in need while ensuring accountability.
Pierce said the story caught people’s attention. “Mayor Hull came out two years ago and told the property owner to remove the people and fix the damage,” he said. “They cleared some trees but never repaired the hole until this article pushed them to act.”
“But look at that,” he said. “You made a difference, man.”