Closing Programs at the Lexington Hotel

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

Dear Friends, supporters, donors, partners, colleagues,

I am writing to you today with great sadness because 

We are closing programs at the Lexington Hotel

We must close transitional and permanent supportive housing at the Lexington Hotel on September 30.

Please know that we are helping our tenants find housing as best as we can.  We have referred veterans to the VA for assistance.   Navajo residents are being referred to the Section 8 program at Navajo Housing Authority and to Gallup Housing Authority.

Residents are being encouraged to look for private housing in the community.  

Please pray for us and our tenants because we have a chronic shortage of decent affordable housing in this community.

Why is this happening?

CARE 66 does not have the resources to provide support services, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing.  We have accumulated significant debts and we can no longer pay our expenses.

In short, we ran out of money.

The Lexington Hotel was set up to be a model for a one-stop support services shop with a “Housing First” model of housing at its center.  

We provided case management, connected people to jobs and benefits, and got people into homes.  

All of this takes skilled employees and costs money.  More than $500,000 per year.  Our revenues are less than $80,000/year.

In the long-term, we wanted to add about 80 to 100 units of permanent supportive housing so that we could get closer to self-sufficiency.  We never did find the money.

What will happen to CARE 66?

            CARE 66 will regroup and figure out how it can help address the issues of poverty, affordable housing and jobs in this community.  

            We have accumulated much experience and believe that we can continue to contribute to the future well being of this community.

Achievements:

We are proud of our contributions to this community over the last 14 years.  They include:

• Developing Chuska Apartments
• Establishing a Native American Housing First model that works
• Rehabilitating the Lexington Hotel
• Developing Hooghan Ho’zho

Over the last 14 years, we brought over $20 million in investment to this community.

In addition, in every year:

•       We received 12,000 calls for assistance with housing. 
•       We received about 3000 volunteer hours,
•       Helped our clients get about 12,000 hours of work,
•       Placed about 65% of our transitional housing clients in permanent housing, and had about 20 people stay in transitional housing every night.
•       Helped 5000 caller or walk-ins

We were, and are not, perfect but we did the best we could with what we had.  We are sad that it has come to this.  We would gladly continue operating if we had the money. 

On a personal note,  sad as I am, I would do this all over again because at least we tried to do something about homelessness and poverty.  The work of the Lexington Hotel has been an act of love and perseverance.  We have tried to help people get back on their feet, equip them with the knowledge that they are capable of achieving their dreams, and most importantly, that they are not condemned to the suffering of mental illness, drug abuse and homelessness.

I want to thank all of you: staff, donors, board members, friends far and near who have encouraged us, supported us and made the many miracles of this work happen.  It's been an amazing journey.

We are looking for a buyer for the Lexington Hotel.  Please tell people who might be interested.

You can still help by making a contribution on the Paypal link on this blog, if you want to.

PS: The closing of programs at the Lexington Hotel has very little to do with Hooghan Ho'zho.

James and Ernie perform benefit for CARE 66 at the El Morro Theater

Come join James and Ernie in a benefit performance for CARE 66 on Friday, April 4^th at 7 PM at the El Morro Theater.

Advance tickets are $10.00 and are available for pick up at the Lexington Hotel (407 W. Historic Highway 66).  Tickets at the door will be $15.00. Bring the whole family and help end homelessness. 

Half of the proceeds will support CARE 66 and its mission of “Creating Opportunities to Help End Homelessness” right here in Gallup.

For further information, call Carl at (505) 722-0066 or visit www.care66.org.

 

CARE 66’s 3K and 5K Turkey Trot and Cranberry Walk

CARE 66’s “Turkey Trot and Cranberry Walk” will be held on Thursday November 28th at the Lexington Hotel located at 407 W. Historic Highway 66.

Registration starts at 8 AM.

Adult entries are $10.00; youth 12 & up; under are $5.00, but sign up the whole family for $20.00 and show your support for ending homelessness in our area.  If you can’t run or walk, stand and volunteer!

All proceeds go to CARE 66 to support of our mission of creating opportunities to help end homelessness right here in Gallup.  Rain or shine event, no refunds please.

For further information, call Marlon at (505) 722-0066. To register and make a payment,  please click here.    

 

 

Gallup Journey Column July 2012

July 2012.  We have been meeting with Navajo Housing Authority to see if there is a possibility to renew our support services grant.  We met with them in late June and are happy to report that we will eventually receive funds to support social services.

Our annual Mother Road Bicycle Classic is scheduled for, Saturday, September 15^th.  If you are interested in doing the medium length ride as a way of to develop confidence and endurance, please email me and we can set up a ride or two.

We are also looking into the idea of several small community gatherings/tours to talk about our vision for this community and the surrounding communities.

Until next month stay well and do good!