Las Cruces renews lease for Community of Hope

LAS CRUCES – The city council unanimously approved a new five-year lease Monday with the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, a nonprofit tasked with providing services to residents at risk of losing their housing or are homeless. 

Under its agreement with the city, the agency subleases space on a 17-acre campus owned by the city to partner with non-governmental organizations that provide health care, early childhood services and food assistance. 

The agreement renews a key private-public partnership serving low-income residents and some of the most vulnerable members of the community. The Mesilla Valley Community of Hope has leased the facilities located off of West Amador Avenue since 1994. It subleases space to nonprofits Amador Health Center, food pantry Casa de Peregrinos, El Caldito Soup Kitchen and Jardín de los Niños. 

The new lease clarifies security protocols, reporting requirements and the respective maintenance responsibilities of the city and Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, with the city committing to dedicating a full-time employee overseeing campus facilities. 

Rent on the 12.35 acres covered by the lease is valued at $690,000 annually, or $3.45 million over five years, but the lease stipulates that the rent is payable through the agencies’ services to the city in lieu of cash. The agreement may be renewed four times for five years apiece. 

Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, law enforcement, New Mexico bail reform and public safety have been the focus of a contentious debate where some community members have linked the city’s unhoused residents and individuals suffering from substance abuse or other behavioral health crises to crime and blight. 

On Monday, however, no community members spoke in opposition to extending the city’s relationship with Mesilla Valley Community of Hope or any of its partners. Councilors thanked the agencies for their work, which Councilor Yvonne Flores said included “destigmatizing people without housing.” 

Councilor Johana Bencomo expressed satisfaction that new lease terms would help the city “be a good landlord,” and added that with federal changes in housing policy and cuts to funding for safety net programs, “local government needs to step up and support, where it’s going to get more difficult.” 

The council approved the lease on a 6-0 vote, with Councilor Bill Mattiace absent for the vote, having abstained from the discussion because a family member works at the Amador Health Center. 

Mesilla Valley Community of Hope Executive Director Nicole Martinez said the agreement “solidifies the city’s support in understanding the seriousness of the services we provide and the need in our community.” 

Speaking with the Journal after the meeting, Martinez said, “Today felt good. We felt supported. Even though there’s a dollar figure of how much the lease agreement is for, each of our agencies brings in a lot of money to this campus for the people that we serve. I think we’re a real asset to the community, and we’re just grateful that the city recognizes that.”