Raynell Ann “Annie” Dinsmoor, a homeless woman who had been a resident of Artesia since the early 2000s, passed away on Dec. 15, 2023.
Her passing resulted in an emotional outpouring from the general community, with many residents sharing memories of Annie on community Facebook pages. Several community members donated funds to the family to assist with funeral expenses, resulting in the complete coverage of all arrangement expenses.
According to her obituary, Dinsmoor, born June 15, 1955, in California, had travelled the western U.S. for several years before settling in Cheyenne, Wyo., in the 1990s. She moved to Artesia to be closer to family and old friends.
Dinsmoor “had a good heart surrounded by a rough exterior,” the obituary reads. “She had a tough time in life but will now receive the blessings of peace that come as a reward for caring about others. She loved animals and kids and will be remembered with love.”
Dinsmoor’s death occurred during a string of nights where the temperature dropped from the mid-40s to the high-20s, which has sparked conversations on social media and around the community regarding potential solutions to homelessness in the area, including the building of a homeless shelter, which was the consensus of social media comment sections.
Community leaders do not seem to believe a shelter should be the first step toward addressing homelessness in the area, though it has not been explicitly ruled out altogether.
On Dec. 6, 2023, Artesia Mayor and Eddy County Commissioner Jon Henry provided a synopsis of an Eddy County Commission meeting during the KSVP Morning Show which concluded with a discussion concerning homelessness in Artesia.
Henry acknowledged that the issue of homelessness, though it does not affect Artesia in the same way it affects neighboring towns or larger cities, has increased in recent years and deserves to be addressed as a mental health issue.
“What we talked about to some degree is maybe we get some sort of task force or group together to really have good discussions across the county on what do we do with this problem?” Henry said. “Because right now what happens with mental health? And I think that’s what’s important for everyone to understand. The state’s idea of mental health is send them to the county jail. And the county jail […] isn’t equipped to fix mental health.”
Henry suggested solutions should be aimed at solving the problems that lead to homelessness, asking “How do we help these folks get out of this situation?” and citing “Bridges Out of Poverty,” a set of strategies he says helped him understand the underlying reasons some individuals find themselves living in crisis.
A representative of the Artesia Police Department (APD), Sgt. Chris Gallegos, explained the APD relies heavily on community resources and donations when responding to calls relating to homeless persons. There are no laws against vagrancy or homelessness, so aside from removing a trespasser or performing a welfare check, the APD can take only limited action.
Gallegos explained that the department passes out “Packets of Love,” donated by churches, which can include blankets, coats and personal hygiene products. He continued to explain that community members are permitted to contribute to these packs by donating supplies.
“The department will continue to do what we can when we can,” Gallegos said. “Whatever we do will need to be a collaborative effort.”
A number of community resources exist for residents experiencing financial or emotional hardship, most of which run as volunteer organizations.
Residents in need of food can receive groceries from the St. Vincent de Paul food bank on Tuesday or Thursday of the first three weeks of the month based on their last name, or from Trinity Temple Assembly of God. Trinity Temple hosts a food pantry every first and third Tuesday of the month. Both organizations are affiliated with Roadrunner Food Bank, a statewide organization whose website provides a map of all affiliated food pantry locations in New Mexico.
Residents experiencing difficulty paying basic living expenses such as rent and utilities can apply for assistance through the Yes NM website; can apply for housing through the Housing Authority or Roselawn Manor, both of which provide income-based rates; or can apply for housing through Habitat for Humanity.
Residents experiencing emotional turmoil can seek help through Permian Basin Counseling and Guidance, which has an office in First American Bank and offers services on a sliding scale for the whole family. LifeHouse, which operates in both Artesia and Carlsbad, offers both in- and out-patient mental health and substance abuse assistance, including a detox center, counselling, financial literacy training and more for men, women, and women with children from the Eddy County area.
Residents who are not in crisis can donate to or volunteer with almost all of the above-named organizations. To stay up to date on the formation of a public task force and other responses to homelessness, Artesians can follow “City of Artesia, NM Government” on Facebook, @artesiagov on Instagram, or attend city council and county commission meetings to share any unique perspectives on homelessness and how the community can begin to support residents in crisis.
Those wishing to speak with the mayor directly are encouraged to take advantage of Minute with the Mayor, held at Kith + Kin Roasting Co. from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
