HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION DIVISION

SB 127 creates a new Homelessness Reduction Division within New Mexico's Health Care Authority to coordinate state efforts addressing homelessness. The division will develop a statewide strategic plan, establish a "homeless data integration system" to track homelessness data across local services (while protecting health and personal information from public records requests), and collaborate with state agencies. It also establishes an Interagency Task Force (including all major agency secretaries) and a Homelessness Reduction Advisory Council to advise on policy and implementation. This bill directly affects state agencies, local homeless service providers, and residents experiencing homelessness by restructuring coordination around housing stability and health outcomes.