The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to plunge the Solace crisis treatment center in Santa Fe into a financial crisis requiring cuts in staff and services.

But a $ 185,000 federal stimulus loan was made last month and will help keep the center going until June, ensuring that its services for victims of sexual violence and other trauma remain available during that time. difficult, said Solace Executive Director María José Rodríguez Cádiz.

Without the aid, a forgivable loan under the Federal Paycheck Protection Program, Rodríguez Cádiz would have had to make some tough decisions.

“More likely than not, I should have created a downsizing plan accordingly,” she said.

The center offers both clinical therapy and assistance, guiding trauma survivors through the legal system and social services.

The federal loan will cover the paychecks of 21 Solace employees and about 25 percent of some overhead. If aid recipients meet certain conditions, such as keeping workers on staff, they do not have to repay the money.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit New Mexico, the treatment center’s revenue dropped dramatically as fundraising events were canceled and costs increased as the organization moved in. new technology so that workers can advise clients remotely, said Rodríguez Cádiz.

Some clients initially balked at remote counseling sessions, preferring in-person contact, Rodríguez Cádiz said, but most have since adopted the platform.

“We did not have [financial] cushion or any kind of safety net – much less for two or three months, ”she said.

The center organizes around 3,300 counseling sessions per year. It offers clinical therapy to around 600 clients and advocacy for 900 clients, Rodríguez Cádiz said.

She praised Enterprise Bank and Trust, a local lender, for providing a loan in about 10 days.

The center can now continue its mission at full capacity, said Rodríguez Cádiz.

“Our work is essential for the communities we serve, especially during this time of a pandemic affecting mental and emotional health,” she said.