Power in Partnership: Strengthening Rural Housing Access with Española Pathways Shelter
In this Q&A, Rob Vigil from Española Pathways Shelter, a homeless shelter in rural New Mexico, shares how his team supports individuals experiencing homelessness and those in recovery, the unique challenges and strengths of serving a rural community, and how Unite Us helps bridge gaps in care.
Can you start by telling us a little bit about Española Pathways Shelter and your role there?
Española Pathways Shelter has been serving our community for about seven years. I’ve been with the organization since the beginning, helping provide overnight shelter services for both men and women experiencing homelessness.
In addition to the shelter, I oversee Eagle Village Recovery Housing, a transitional program for individuals coming out of treatment. Participants must have completed at least six months in a treatment facility, and they can stay with us for up to 18 months while receiving case management, supportive services, and connections to other local resources through Unite Us.
What are some of the unique strengths and challenges of serving a rural community like Española?
I’ll start with the strengths; one of our biggest strengths is our close-knit community. I was born and raised here, and people really look out for each other. There’s a strong sense of family and local support, which helps us work collaboratively with both clients and their loved ones.
But rural areas come with their challenges too, transportation being a big one. Resources are spread out, and while we do have public transit, it doesn’t always reach the outskirts of our county. Río Arriba County is one of the largest in New Mexico—roughly the size of Maine—so getting services to everyone can be difficult.
What are some of the biggest barriers to health and well-being your clients face, and how do you help address them?
Access to care can be tough in rural areas. It can take a long time to establish primary care or find a provider who’s accepting new patients. Again, transportation is a major hurdle, especially for the elderly or those who aren’t comfortable with technology.
At Pathways, we use Unite Us to help clients connect with other local organizations. The ability to make referrals and warm handoffs through the network helps us navigate some of these barriers, bridge care gaps, and help people get the support they need.
Can you share a success story from your work using Unite Us?
Absolutely. A few months ago, I received a referral through Unite Us for a client who was relocating from Santa Fe to Española to be closer to family. Through that referral, I was able to access information about his goals and previous services.
That made it easy to pick up right where the other provider left off. As soon as he arrived, I was able to connect him with local resources right away. It made the transition seamless for him and saved us both a lot of time and effort.
Since joining Unite Us, how has your approach to connecting clients to care changed?
I’ve been a navigator on Unite Us’ platform for almost seven years now, and I’ve seen firsthand how it’s evolved. It’s made collaboration much easier for our case managers and shelter staff.
Beyond the platform itself, monthly navigator meetings—hosted by Santa Fe County—give us the chance to connect with others across the region. We share challenges, success stories, and best practices, which strengthen our community as a whole. Unite Us has become a crucial tool for ensuring that even outlying rural areas have access to coordinated care.
What’s the value of being part of a broader care network for a rural organization?
It’s huge. Being connected through Unite Us means we can see who’s in our network and refer clients quickly for the services they need. In rural areas where people may only get to town once a week, that efficiency and immediate access to local resources really matters.
The platform also helps us stay connected with other providers, even when we can’t meet face-to-face. It gives rural organizations a broader reach and helps us better serve our clients.
What advice would you give to other rural providers who are considering joining Unite Us?
I’ve been out in the community banging the drum about how critical it would be to get us all connected on the Unite Us network. For rural communities, they’d instantly have a broader base of opportunities to provide access to resources for the clients that we serve.
I tell them that it’s extremely user-friendly—and I say that as someone who’s not very tech-savvy at all! The tech support is amazing. Any issues or any questions I’ve ever had, I get resolved quickly. Even if technology isn’t your strong suit, you’ll always have help and guidance from Unite Us. It’s a platform built to make collaboration easier, not harder.
Finally, what gives you hope for the future of health and human services in rural New Mexico?
I’m hopeful about the growing use of technology and platforms like Unite Us that bring providers together in one cohesive network. As more providers and organizations join, our ability to serve clients efficiently will only continue to improve.
The more connected we become, the better we can overcome the barriers that make rural care challenging. I truly believe this kind of collaboration will shape a stronger future for rural communities everywhere.
About Española Pathways Shelter:
Española Pathways Shelter provides shelter, recovery housing, and supportive services to individuals and families in northern New Mexico. Through their partnership with Unite Us, the organization offers an evidence-based approach, as well as a wrap-around supportive services model, that provides comprehensive care alongside shelter and vital links to more permanent housing and stability.
