The city has violated a court order and its own policies by discarding the personal property of thousands of homeless people.
The Big Story
Thu. May 16, 2024
Albuquerque Is Throwing Out the Belongings of Homeless People, Violating City Policy
by Nicole Santa Cruz
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A handwritten card a source gave reporter Nicole Santa Cruz.

While reporting this story, Nicole Santa Cruz collected notecards from people who had their belongings taken in Albuquerque’s encampment removals. She met Christian Smith, a 42-year-old New Mexico native, whose dentures and other belongings were thrown away by city workers as part of an aggressive effort to rid the city of homeless encampments.

Nicole, along with news apps developer Ruth Talbot and engagement reporters Asia Fields and Maya Miller, plans to continue reporting on cities and agencies that clear encampments and take the belongings of people living in them. If you or someone you know has had their items taken, or if you have other insight into how this plays out in your region, we’d like to connect with you. You can use this form to get in touch or share one of our flyers in your community.
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