NMPL News:

ESPAÑOLA — On Jan. 27, the Española City Council voted 5-2 to approve the Española Pathways Shelter’s (“EPS”) application for a five-year special use permit, allowing the shelter to continue providing overnight shelter to unhoused community members. The decision concludes more than sixteen months of review and comes at a critical moment as winter conditions intensify. Advocates and community leaders thanked the City Council for its action, noting that the approval provides long-needed certainty for the shelter, its staff, and the people who rely on its services during the coldest months of the year.

The Council’s vote follows its referral of the matter to an independent hearing officer, who conducted a comprehensive, record-based review and recommended approval of the permit. The hearing officer concluded that EPS’s application satisfied the City’s zoning requirements and posed no risk to public health or safety under the City’s governing standards for special use permits. With the Council’s adoption of that recommendation, EPS may continue providing overnight shelter services without interruption.

“Pathways Shelter is the only place in Española where unhoused residents can sleep safely and stay warm during winter,” said Riley Masse, Senior Economic Equity Attorney with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “The City Council has made the right decision and provided certainty for the people who rely on these services.”

The Pathways Shelter has operated since 2019 under a special use permit authorizing overnight services during colder months. It also provides year-round day services and case management, connecting residents to food assistance, housing resources, healthcare, and treatment programs. Last year, Pathways served more than 400 new community members and between 45 and 65 people each day, many of whom would otherwise have slept outdoors.

“This shelter has saved lives,” said Dena Moscola, Executive Director and CEO of Española Pathways Shelter. “Every day, people rely on Pathways for care, stability, and support. The City’s decision gives us the ability to plan and operate with confidence through this winter.”

Pathways collaborates with more than 40 partner agencies to meet the growing need for housing and health services in northern New Mexico.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep,” said Reed Colfax, Co-Managing Partner of the civil rights firm Relman Colfax. “The City’s decision provides the certainty needed for residents, particularly those with disabilities, and the staff responsible for providing critical services.”

Northern New Mexico is facing a worsening housing crisis. Nearly 420,000 residents live below the federal poverty line, and more than 30,000 people experienced homelessness between 2019 and 2024, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

“Española families are already under immense housing pressure,” said Monet Silva, Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. “The shelter is an essential part of the community’s safety net, and we are thankful for the City Council’s decision to keep it open and accessible throughout the winter.”

Background

• 2019: Pathways Shelter receives a five-year special use permit authorizing overnight shelter services for unhoused people.
• 2024–25: As the permit nears expiration, the City requires Pathways to submit a new application; the City allows Pathways to continue operating overnight shelter services while the application is under review.
• Aug. 14, 2025: The Española Planning and Zoning Commission denies Pathways’ permit application.
• Oct. 28, 2025: On appeal, the Española City Council refers the matter to an independent hearing officer.
• Jan. 12, 2026: The independent hearing officer issues a recommendation to grant the permit and allow Pathways to continue its overnight shelter operations, stating that Pathways’ challenges are in the past and they are fully compliant with City requirements.
• Jan. 27, 2026: The Española City Council, on a 5-2 vote, adopted the hearing officer’s recommendation and granted Pathways’ permit to continue its overnight shelter operations.