A Place to Start: New Creation Church Hosts Albuquerque’s First Safe Outdoor Space
Learn more about Albuquerque's first, long-awaited Safe Outdoor Space, which calls the International District home.
By Kristin Satterlee
A tent next to New Creation church with its own little porch, a pot of flowers, and a place to shower and keep your things may not seem like much. Indeed, it’s not meant to be a permanent solution. But for a few members of Albuquerque’s unhoused community, it’s a place to start.
Albuquerque’s first safe outdoor space
After years of political wrangling over how to approach the housing problem in New Mexico, legislators have carved out a big chunk of money—80 million dollars—to address homelessness this year. Some of that is being invested in small Safe Outdoor Spaces like Refuge SOS, the one at New Creation near Zuni and Pennsylvania.
The church, which also operates a few transitional housing apartments in the International District, is providing 10 tents and 24-hour security. Each resident will have a community support worker and access to groups and life-skills classes to help them reach their goals.
Pastor Jesse Harden says, “Not everyone is ready or able to move into an apartment. But this is the first step, you know, the half-step into the next step and hopefully into a life of stability.”
Building a dream
The safe outdoor space as it exists today “wasn’t our original intent,” says Harden. In 2020, the church bought a weedy lot “and started kind of praying and dreaming. What could this look like for our neighbors and our neighborhood? How could we leverage it for flourishing?”
At first, New Creation built insulated sheds with lofts. “We heard a rumor that churches could do whatever they want. So we went with it…. We'll ask forgiveness rather than permission, right?” Though churches do have some special leeway, there were still rules to follow. Soon the sheds were shut down by city code enforcement.
Starting over
“Laws don't have nuance, right?” says Harden. “They can't see that moving from a tent and a sidewalk into an insulated shed with ventilation is better.
So New Creation went back to square one, this time with the city on board. What they came up with is a model that Albuquerque hopes will spread. Maria Wolfe, CABQ Homeless Innovations Officer, urges: “If anybody is interested in really exploring putting one together, especially a member of our faith community, I am ready to walk hand in hand with you.”
Start with what’s beautiful
“I believe that we need to start with what's beautiful in our neighborhood and all the strengths. I do,” says Harden. “But the reality of what I've experienced with our neighbors and conversations is beginning with nothing.”
“And so I want to create a space of beauty, and I want our neighbors, even if they don't have the means or resources, to have a place of beauty. And I want to live next to beauty.”
Creating real community
Harden and city representatives agree that safe outdoor spaces are not the ultimate solution. The way to fight homelessness is by getting people into stable homes. “We need to think about sustainability,” Harden says, “in terms of its ability to foster community.” To make a place where people want to stay.