‘Thank you, Las Vegas’: Samaritan House executive director moves on
George Lyon will soon depart Samaritan House, where he’s been the executive director since 2016, but he’s not leaving San Miguel County.
Lyon originally moved to the Las Vegas area for a faculty job in the political science department at New Mexico Highlands University. After two years at NMHU, Lyon spotted an ad from Samaritan House in the Optic seeking someone to run the shelter. Having worked at shelters in three U.S. states, and in Ciudad Juárez, he eagerly applied.
During Lyon’s tenure with Samaritan House, a nonprofit staple of the community that provides housing assistance, food and other services for anyone in need, he helped open the new shelter at 501 Seventh Street. But he said he can’t take all the credit.
“There are a lot of stakeholders that came to bat. Churches, and the city put some money in, and the county put some money in, along with a lot of smaller donors throughout the community,” Lyon said. “It wouldn’t be where it’s at without their help. I really need to make sure that it’s recognized that it’s support from the community that’s made it happen, and will keep it going.”
Lyon also credited local artist Lisa Lawrence for making the building — a former medical facility — into an inviting space for people experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.
“She transformed that institution into a home,” Lyon said. “She did that by painstakingly picking the colors, and the paintings.”
The new shelter has other advantages, too. While many shelters require everyone staying there to exit the building in the morning, Samaritan House now has a day room that provides people a place to get out of the elements during daytime hours, have some coffee, make phone calls or use a computer.
The layout of the building also allows for semiprivate sleeping areas, instead of one large room with cots or bunk beds.
A new department was also established during Lyon’s time at the helm, the Department of Support and Outreach Services, or SOS.
“Whatever way someone comes in, Samaritan House is ready to support them and stabilize them with critical needs: food and housing. That’s a given,” he said. “It’s the secondary that’s really separated us from other shelters, and that’s the social work — the SOS department — which is staffed by social workers.”
Five social workers, graduates of NMHU, staff the department, and it’s those social workers that set Samaritan House apart from other shelters, Lyon said. He called it “a perfect fit” because they’re from the area and already know many of the people who come in.
“We are on a path to do something different,” Lyon said. “Our end game is to end homelessness, and to greatly reduce food insecurity and hunger. That’s what we want to do.”
Across the nation, the coronavirus pandemic placed a strain on nonprofits that provide food and shelter services to communities, and it was no different for Samaritan House. As an essential service, Samaritan House never closed, not even during the two statewide stay-at-home orders issued by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
As the pandemic worsened, Lyon and his staff had to figure out ways to provide personal protective equipment to staff, and thanks to donations by area churches, Lyon said they were able to provide their staff with needed PPE, and still be able to distribute some to members of the community in need as well.
While Samaritan House has long provided packaged food to anyone in need, Lyon said during the pandemic, requests for food tripled. Lyon praised his staff for their dedication throughout the pandemic, saying they stuck with it no matter how challenging things got.
“I didn’t have a single employee say ‘I’m going home; I’m not coming back.’ They were on the frontlines from day one, and stayed on,” Lyon said. “The number one quality they all have is empathy.”
Though proud of the work he’s done, and the people he works with, Lyon is set to move on now. He’ll soon be the executive director of the Interfaith Community Shelter at Pete’s Place, in Santa Fe. Lyon lives in rural San Miguel County, where he’ll remain as he takes on the new challenges.
“I want the public to know that Samaritan House would not be possible if not for the people in the community,” Lyon said. “It’s them that will make it work, and have made it work. So thank you, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and the people who have supported us.”
