It looks like the long wait could soon be over.
After many months of searching, the city’s Health, Housing & Homelessness Department (HHH) has identified a nonprofit to oversee operations at the city’s Gateway West facility — Chicanos Por La Causa. Officials submitted a $5 million contract that will now be considered by the City Council.
The Finance & Government Operations Committee voted in a 5-0 motion Oct. 28 to forward the contract to the City Council for immediate action. The committee members included City Councilors Louie Sanchez, Dan Champine, Tammy Fiebelkorn, Dan Lewis and Klarissa Peña. Although an agenda hasn’t yet been released, it’s likely that the contract will be voted on at Monday’s City Council meeting.
If approved, Chicanos Por La Causa would take over operations at the former Westside Emergency Housing Center from Albuquerque Heading Home. The clock has been ticking, as Albuquerque Heading Home has been working under a $2.1 million emergency contract since July, which expires Dec. 31.
For more: Gateway West’s $2.1M emergency contract expires in 90 days
Chicanos Por La Causa would be responsible for the 24/7 operations of Gateway West, an overnight shelter for those experiencing homelessness with a capacity of 660. The facility regularly fills hundreds of beds nightly, with seasonal increases during the winter months.
It’s still unclear how or when Albuquerque Heading Home and Chicanos Por La Causa would begin a transition process if the contract is approved. HHH spokesperson Connor Woods said Wednesday that more information from the department would be forthcoming.
Chicanos Por La Causa works in six Southwest states — New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Texas. According to its website, its focus areas are economic development, education, housing, advocacy and health and human services.
It operates more than 30 programs — including for those experiencing homelessness — and has approximately 2,000 employees. Alicia Nuñez was named its president and CEO in April.
It wasn’t immediately known if Chicanos Por La Causa has experience operating a facility like Gateway West.
The nonprofit has worked within New Mexico’s behavioral health purchasing collaborative supportive housing plan — an initiative that creates permanent supportive housing for those with behavioral health disorders and related disabilities. The program provides subsidized housing units for households with income limits and individuals with long-term mental or physical disabilities that require long-term supportive services.
More information on Chicanos Por La Causa is here.
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