In 2022, El Paso faced a convergence of challenges unlike anything our community had experienced in recent memory. Homelessness was increasing. The impacts of COVID-19 continued to strain public systems. Shelters, hospitals, outreach teams, law enforcement agencies and service providers were all experiencing growing pressure while trying to meet the needs of some of our community’s most vulnerable residents.
What emerged from those challenges was a recognition that homelessness could no longer be addressed through fragmented efforts and isolated services. If we were going to make meaningful progress, we needed a coordinated system built around the needs of the people we serve.
Through the city of El Paso’s El Paso Helps Initiative, community providers, healthcare systems, local government agencies, philanthropy, behavioral health organizations, housing providers, outreach teams, and other stakeholders came together around a shared belief that homelessness could not be solved by any one organization acting alone.
The initiative grew from the collective work that occurred during the COVID-19 response, when providers and public agencies recognized the value of greater coordination and stronger partnerships. Rather than operating independently, partners worked together to build a system capable of connecting people in crisis more effectively to shelter, housing, healthcare, behavioral health services and other community resources…