Cuba Health Center helps fill housing shortage with units for its workers

CUBA, N.M. — Presbyterian Medical Services officials and dignitaries cut the ribbon July 25 for a new housing unit for its health care workers with the hope of boosting patient clinic visits and filling a longtime need for homes in the small Sandoval County village.

PMS, not affiliated with Presbyterian Healthcare Services, held the ceremony to mark the start of a new beginning for four Cuba Health Center primary care providers, who will reside in the townhouse-style units, made possible by federal funds.

PMS Chief Executive Officer Steve Hansen said following the ceremony that he feels “fantastic” knowing that a married couple who both work at the clinic will have a new home. Two other health care workers will also move in, while a fifth employee was able to secure their own housing, he added.

Hansen called the units a “nice, safe place” he hopes the employees will call home “for a long time.”

The project solves a longtime recruiting challenge for the clinic, which has been part of the village of 600-plus people for more than 50 years, according to Hansen.

“When people come ... they love it here, but there’s nowhere to live,” he said.

The project became reality in large part because of New Mexico Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, who sponsored $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s economic development initiative, a news release said. The funds went toward the design and build of the housing units, according to Hansen.

While helping four health care workers might not seem like much for the amount of HUD money the clinic received, it may be able to double its patient visits, from 4,000 to 8,000 a year, Hansen said.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Leger Fernandez said she enjoyed walking through the units, which provide scenic views and natural light — not to mention it’s a quick walk to work.

“It will be a wonderful place to know you can go home to after a hard day,” she said.

Leger Fernandez, a Democrat, said she made community projects a priority when she joined Congress in 2021 under then-President Joe Biden’s administration. She chose to sponsor this project out of 10 others because she is “a big believer in housing,” including those for the workforce and in rural areas.

“When people have to commute long hours, they (say), ‘Oh, maybe I’ll just work in Rio Rancho,’” Leger Hernandez said. “But it’s important we have health care in rural areas, because when you don’t, those areas start to die. So we need to make sure places like Cuba are able to have health clinics here.”

Her work on filling a housing need in rural communities remains ongoing, including sponsoring the Home of Your Own Act, which helps people make a down payment, she said. House Bill 2064 was introduced in March and is pending in committee, according to Congress’ online bill tracker.

“Housing is part of the American dream,” Leger Hernandez said.