Santa Fe residents face a lack of accessible, affordable housing options and there is insufficient capacity to provide supportive services – such as employment assistance, counseling, and educational programs – for individuals in need.
The city has demonstrated its capability to house its entire unsheltered population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, those without homes were moved into empty dormitories and local motels, showcasing a swift and well-coordinated response. This effort involved coordination between the city, county, the Thornburg Foundation, the Santa Fe Community Foundation, and Anchorum. Consequently, there were no major COVID outbreaks among Santa Fe’s unhoused population. Federal funding through the CARES Act supported this initiative. With the cessation of this funding, the city was seeking a similar model to provide both affordable housing and supportive services for those in need.
A unique opportunity presented itself when the owners of the Lamplighter Inn, a motel along busy Cerrillos Road was put up for sale. Built in 1960, the two-story motel had 80 rooms and 16 studios apartments on 1.5 acres. Coincidentally, the hotel is just across the street from the Life Link, a nonprofit that provides supportive services to those experiencing homelessness and/or behavioral health challenges.
The city of Santa Fe was poised to make the purchase of the hotel, but restrictive procurement processes nearly caused the deal to collapse. That’s when Anchorum stepped in with:
Financial Leverage: Anchorum Health Foundation provided a $3.5 million bridge loan to facilitate the purchase of the Lamplighter Inn to convert it into affordable and permanent housing. Our ability to act swiftly and provide critical financial intervention was instrumental in preserving this vital initiative.
Community Partnerships: Anchorum Health Foundation, with our partners, successfully raised more than $9 million in public sector grants from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, as well as the City and County of Santa Fe. This significant funding ensures that the facility will remain debt-free for the next 20 years.
Our community partners were instrumental in shaping the project model. Project Moxie played a crucial role in securing a developer, JL Gray Co., while the Life Link was engaged to provide comprehensive supportive services.
Through our collaborative efforts, we not only secured the necessary resources for this project, but also enhanced the capacity of our partners to undertake similar initiatives.
Today, construction permitting is in progress to eventually turn the property into permanent residences. This includes asbestos remediation activities, energy-efficient systems, and infrastructure upgrades to adhere to current regulations and environmental standards.
Upon completion, the Lamplighter will feature 58 affordable housing units that will rent for $950 to $1,020 a month.
