GRANTS, N.M. — Roberta’s Place has secured a highly competitive federal grant—about $500,000—to establish Cibola County’s first transitional housing program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, Executive Director Oshay Jaramillo said in an interview.
Unlike the organization’s emergency shelter, where most stays last about 90 days, transitional housing will place survivors in their own apartments, trailers, or rental homes and help them remain housed for up to 24 months. The funding will also create a full-time local job and expand case management and counseling.
“We’re extremely excited,” Jaramillo said. “Transitional housing bridges the gap between immediate safety in our shelter and permanent, stable housing. It gives survivors the time and support to truly rebuild their lives.”
Jaramillo said the program is tailored to each participant. Roberta’s Place will help eligible survivors locate and secure housing in the community and assist with short-term bills while they work toward long-term stability. Just as importantly, the organization will connect participants to education and employment services—everything from GED support and college enrollment to job searches and training.
“The real goal is that, during those two years, participants can go to school, find sustainable employment, and build a rental history,” Jaramillo said. “By the time assistance ends, they’re able to maintain their housing on their own.”
The grant is expected to house at least 20 families, with additional families receiving non-housing support such as case management and counseling. Participation will be limited to survivors already served through Roberta’s Place—those experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking— who are transitioning out of emergency shelter.
Jaramillo emphasized the program’s preventative power. Without a longer runway, many survivors face homelessness or pressure to return to unsafe situations.
“Ninety days is a short window to restart a life,” she said. “This investment is about safety, stability, and the future. It will help families in Cibola County thrive in the long run— and it will change outcomes for children who, for the first time, can grow up in a stable home.”
While building the new housing program, Roberta’s Place is also standing up a separate— but complementary—service: a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program slated to open in December. The organization has hired a full-time SANE nurse so local victims can receive forensic exams in Grants rather than traveling to Albuquerque and waiting days
for care.
“If someone is a victim of sexual assault in Cibola County, they’ll be able to come straight to us,” Jaramillo said. “Our nurse will provide exams and work with police so survivors can get help immediately, close to home.”
Roberta’s Place will continue operating its emergency shelter at full capacity as the two new initiatives come online. Jaramillo said the organization is grateful for community support—including donations to its thrift store—and is working to add early-morning and weekend staffing to better manage drop-offs.
“This has never existed in Cibola County,” Jaramillo said of the transitional housing program. “We’re honored to be chosen and ready to do the work.”