Dawn's life ended too soon, she died July 8, 2023, age 48, with her children by her side. But her courageous example lives on and will have a positive impact for countless families experiencing homelessness. 

The story of how New Day Dawning began...

A New Day Dawning for Compassionate Action!

At the beginning of April, 2022, I picked up Dawn Zephier, a Las Cruces mother, and we headed over to City Hall to meet with Mayor Ken Miyagishima for an important conversation on the topic of invisible family homelessness. 

This marked the launch of our new project, Mamas and Mayors. My one-woman national nonprofit, HEAR US Inc., has focused on family and youth homelessness since I hit the road in my camper in 2005, shortly before Mayor Ken was elected. Las Cruces was on my route then, and I’ve visited several times since. 

The Mayor and I touched base over the years. He was  a compassionate leader for the city with the motto “People Helping People,” and a perfect mayor to inaugurate Mamas and Mayors. Dawn, who shared her recent experience of family homelessness for my film project, was a willing and capable spokesperson. He left office, the longest serving mayor of this city, in 2023.

Homelessness in Las Cruces has sadly, but not surprisingly, surged over the years, as it has everywhere. The best efforts of a dedicated cadre of human service workers have not stemmed the tide of houseless adults and kids, far beyond those visible on street corners and in Tent City.

Homeless families scrape together a place to sleep, typically a fragile arrangement easily shattered. Covid complicated things immensely. Crowded conditions put everyone in jeopardy. Families with scant resources rotate between pricey motels, sleep in their vehicles, and/or stay in places not fit for human habitation. None of those options puts them in contact with organizations focused on addressing family homelessness. 

One factor in this crisis—the loss of their family shelter years ago. While homeless shelters don’t solve homelessness, they do provide a safe place for families to regroup. Dawn related her family’s traumatizing experience at a Las Cruces motel—a violent outburst by their next door neighbor—sadly a common occurrence. When the family shelter located on the Community of Hope campus closed several years ago, it was a great loss. 

You may ask, how many families are homeless? No one knows. No agency focuses on families, nor does anyone keep track. Las Cruces School District’s Project LINK works directly and capably with students experiencing homelessness, but their contact doesn’t begin to identify all families and youth without housing. They’ve served upwards of 1,300 students.

For families, escaping homelessness is a matter of luck. This is not to dismiss the stalwart efforts of a few agencies with extremely limited resources who can’t begin to meet the needs of LC families because of the lack of decent, affordable housing. 

When we met with the Mayor, Dawn and I raised the issue of no family shelter, which would have been immensely helpful when she and her extended family of 9 needed a safe haven. 

Other issues Dawn raised: 

• Request the Gospel Rescue Mission, the only local family “shelter," to open their gates in the morning before 8 so kids could get to school on time. Kids in homeless situations have it hard enough. Walking into class late every day adds to their agony.
• Push for more affordable housing options so families aren't stuck in homelessness for so long. Las Cruces could use more focus on this. The General Obligation (GO) bonds proposed on the November ballot would be useful in developing affordable housing. 
• Increase agency involvement when families are placed in motels so they are not further traumatized, neglected, forgotten. This doesn't begin to touch the families in motels on their own dime, which led to…
• Advocate for the Homeless Children and Youth Act with Members of Congress. Now, families paying for their own motel are not considered homeless enough to qualify for HUD housing assistance. This bipartisan bill would expand the definition. It would be a good issue to discuss at candidate forums. 

In the 5 months Dawn’s extended family of 9 bounced around Las Cruces without a place to call home, she learned valuable lessons, including the need to speak up for yourself and others. As I sat and listened to her share her family’s experiences, she validated the premise behind Mamas and Mayors.

When those who know the issues best courageously speak to those in power, we can expect change. Shining a bright light on family homelessness is way overdue. It’s a new day, thanks to Dawn!