Interfaith Coalition On Homelessness Coordinator Tyler Taylor speaks during the April 16 ‘Understanding Homelessness’ presentation. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Maggie Meier, ThM, an active member of ICOH, at the April 16 presentation. She will also speak Tuesday evening in White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Glenn Weber of Consuelo’s Place in Santa Fe was one of the April 16 presenters and will return Tuesday evening to the White Rock session. Watch for upcoming article on Consuelo’s Place. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Jake Stockwell, Chief Operations Officer of Española Pathways Shelter, speaks at the April 16 event. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
If you missed the “Understanding Homelessness” presentation April 16 in Los Alamos, there is another opportunity to attend on Tuesday evening. April 28 at 6:30 p.m. At the White Rock Methodist Church.
Presenters are Glenn Weber of Consuelo’s Place Emergency Homeless Shelter in Santa Fe and Maggie Meier, ThM.
The program, which is open to all, presents an in-depth and honest look at the causes and effects of homelessness, and many who attended the April session, left with a new perspective on the unhoused, who they are, why they are homeless, and what makes homelessness so hard to escape. It is presented by the locally-based Interfaith Coalition on Homelessness.
The ICOH, the brainchild of local physician Dr. Tyler Taylor, has grown from three congregations in Los Alamos and Espanola two years ago to 14: Protestant, Jewish, Unitarian and Latter Day Saints. ICOH has organized itself into a steering committee and action teams. The goal is to reduce homelessness and its underlying causes in Española Valley, while working with existing very impactful organizations there.
The Coalition has raised thousands of dollars for Española Pathways Shelter as well as $9,500 for free tell phones, along with renewable 30-day service, for 30 patients receiving treatment for addiction disorders at three clinics. Meals, shelving, microwaves, and other items have been provided at Pathways Shelter, and assistance with handyman projects has been given. Some 114 boxes were delivered to groups in Espanola during the ’25/;26 Collection Drive.
ICOH long-term projects underway include:
Working to develop of a free, dedicated, reliable, non-emergency healthcare
transport system in Española, running 7 days/wk.
Supporting several programs at the new Family Resources Center at McCurdy,
including three projects to help high-risk families with children.
Developing an easy online means for people to safely volunteer at a variety of
frontline organizations in Espanola.
Creating and rolling out a very engaging education program for Los Alamos County residents, explaining the complexities of addressing homelessness, and its many causes and effects: Tuesday’s program is a part of this project.
Along with 3 Española clinics that treat addiction disorders, exploring ways to increase patient engagement and successes.
Building relationships with funders, who may be essential to our work over the next 1 to 2 years.
Of course, the ICOH also needs financial support to continue implementing its plans and goals. The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos has created a restricted fund that the Coalition can access.
Tax deductible donations may be made by:
- Writing a check to “The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos” and adding “Espanola Valley Homelessness Fund” or “EVHF”
- On the Givelify website
Put Unitarian Church of Los Alamos in as the recipient.
Choose the amount to donate.
Choose the “Espanola Valley Homelessness Fund.”
Contact ICOH Coordinator Tyler Taylor at tylerinnm@aol.com to get on our email list, or leave a message on www.icohnm.org.