Creating legal pathways to end homelessness

Today, as New Mexicans face a mountain of challenges perpetuating the cycle of eviction and homelessness, Winter L. Torres leverages her knowledge and legal expertise to keep communities housed and help lead our state toward a brighter future.

SERVICES

Homelessness prevention in the forms of Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance

Legal
Consulting

Providing expert legal advice and guidance for clients on homelessness and eviction issues and solutions

Drafting Policy
& Analysis

Breaking the cycle of homelessness and housing instability by reforming systemic pipelines to homelessness

Public
Speaking

Critical education on homelessness prevention through public speaking engagements and group facilitation

PHILOSOPHY

A humanitarian approach to the homelessness crisis

People and Governments too often view homelessness as a personal problem created by the unhoused person through bad choices, addiction, not wanting to work, or behavioral health issues. But these assumptions can be misleading and even dangerous. Winter believes that by approaching homelessness as a community issue – instead of a personal one – we can fuel systemic change and improve the lives of all New Mexicans.

Through thought leadership and proactive legal solutions, Winter works to address the many underlying causes of homelessness New Mexico is failing to confront, including:

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Housing affordability With the nation’s 3rd highest poverty rate, rising rents and shortages in affordable housing statewide, too many New Mexicans simply can’t afford a place to live.
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Eviction education Few people understand that an eviction hearing can happen in less than 5 minutes, but there is a need for representation and there are measures that can be taken before someone is evicted.
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Pipelines to homelessness Our system is designed so that people have to go into homelessness BEFORE they can get help. There are kids in the foster care system, veterans, and domestic violence victims who we know are in need of services, yet we don’t connect them to those services in advance.
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Record-high inmate deaths Our jails are severely understaffed, and unequipped to get people the medical attention they need. As a result, too many people are dying unnecessary deaths.
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Health care shortages Critical shortages in our mental health care workforce – and health care workforce in general – make it nearly impossible for thousands of patients to receive quality care.
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Criminalization of homelessness Our state is behind in our laws and the ways we help people. By treating unhoused people as criminals, New Mexico’s leaders are ultimately causing more harm to our communities.