The Española Planning Commission's vote late last week to deny a special-use permit for the city's lone homeless shelter could force the organization to shut down its services after about six years of operations.

"I think there needs to be a stronger stance in regards to the homelessness situation," said commission Chair JR Trujillo, who voted to deny the new permit for Española Pathways Shelter, which obtained its first city permit in 2019, good for five years. It has since operated with short-term extensions.

"I think that people who are addicted need to be forced to have treatment," Trujillo said. "I think that people who are just criminals and want to live on the streets should be incarcerated. I think people with mental health conditions should also be sent to have some type of reha

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