NMiF exmaines unhoused in Albuquerque

This week on New Mexico in Focus, Senior Producer Lou DiVizio speaks with three experts about the City of Albuquerque's approach when dealing with a growing number of homeless people. Attorney Peter Cubra, Rachel Biggs from Health Care for the Homeless and District 6 City Councilor Nichole Rogers share their perspectives on how city officials deal with encampments, the data being used and ignored that could help paint a more detailed picture of homelessness in the city, and how the various entities working to solve this problem can create a more collaborative relationship.

Executive Producer Jeff Proctor zooms in on the Albuquerque Human Rights Board's recent draft report alleging the city routinely "violates the autonomy, dignity and rights" of people experiencing homelessness.

First, Jeff speaks with the chair of the board that created the report, Anami Dass. Jeff asks about the methodology behind the report, the allegations the board has made and recommendations to remedy the situation.

Then, Proctor speaks with Albuquerque City Attorney Lauren Keefe for the city's response to the report and for an update on the city's policies and practices for clearing encampments. Jeff also asks about recent reporting that Mayor Tim Keller is interested in working with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on an ordinance similar to California Governor Gavin Newsome's executive order calling for state government and local municipalities to remove encampments.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 11 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.

NMiF Segments
Understanding Encampment Responses Since SCOTUS Decision
and
Working Towards Solutions for Albuquerque's Unhoused
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio

Guests
Peter Cubra, attorney, Coalition for a Safer Albuquerque
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque city councilor, District 6
Rachel Biggs, chief strategy officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

ABQ Human Rights Board Alleges Violations of Homeless Rights
Correspondent
Jeff Proctor

Guest
Anami Dass, chair, Albuquerque Human Rights Board

ABQ City Attorney Explains City's Homelessness Policies
Correspondent
Jeff Proctor

Guest
Lauren Keefe, city attorney, City of Albuquerque

Host
Jeff Proctor

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs, is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. "Our Land" Senior Producer is Laura Paskus. The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Antonio Sanchez, and co-producer is Kathy Wimmer.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You.

Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund.

The Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV provides funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future.