Native Vote 2026. This week, Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), a candidate for New Mexico governor, visited Albuquerque to see firsthand how local programs are supporting people experiencing homelessness. During her visit, Haaland received briefings on the medical care, social services, and food assistance provided by UNM Street Medicine and the Albuquerque Community Safety Department.
“As we take on our state’s toughest challenges, we have to meet people where they are,” Haaland said. “I understand how important support can be. When I was ready to get sober, I was fortunate to have family by my side. When I was working to save for a down payment, my child and I had safe places to stay. As governor, I will focus on lowering housing costs so fewer people end up on the streets, while also expanding rehabilitation and addiction services to address homelessness at its roots.”
Haaland’s plan includes leveraging the state’s new behavioral health fund to expand wraparound services like those offered by UNM Street Medicine and the Albuquerque Community Safety Department. She also aims to increase the supply of affordable housing and combat illegal drug activity by targeting traffickers and organized crime.
Haaland has a longstanding record of advocating for New Mexicans in need of housing and mental health support. During her time in Congress representing New Mexico, she secured funding for Project ECHO, which trains medical and behavioral health providers statewide. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she backed tenant protections, and as Secretary of the Interior, she worked to expand housing availability in rural communities near national parks and public lands.