One of Albuquerque’s largest homelessness service providers — HopeWorks — is expected to welcome clients into a freshly built-out behavioral health center as early as next week. The $1.7 million project that was six years in the making received funding through a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city is also a partner on the project.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled to take place Thursday morning was canceled due to winter weather conditions.
HopeWorks Interim CEO Vicky Palmer said the motivation behind the center was to expand urgently needed behavioral health services for those experiencing homelessness and to consolidate case managers, therapists and other staff into one building.
“We’ve been doing behavioral health all along, but it’s just been scattered,” she said. “This is also a trauma-informed building.”
Trauma-informed design includes more open and bright spaces with vibrant colors. It’s built out with fewer sharp corners and more cozy, quiet, secure and relaxing features.
“When somebody’s had trauma and they walk around a corner and someone jumps out at them it can really be a major thing,” Palmer said. “So we made sure hallways are wide.”
Those receiving behavioral health services are often dealing with substance use disorders and/or psychiatric disorders. HopeWorks enrolls them into a therapy program and provides case management and housing services.
The one-story behavioral health center is located in the former Lilly Barrack jewelry warehouse at 1216 4th St. NW. It features renovated offices, a group therapy room, conference room, training space, family support room, kids playroom, nursing office and small medical clinic.
Officials said onsite neuropsychiatric assessments for clients with traumatic brain injuries will also be available in partnership with University of New Mexico Hospital.
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Palmer, who’s been with HopeWorks for 17 years, said the center will allow staff to serve an additional 244 people a year. About 800 clients are currently seen annually, she said.
“We’re going to be getting in touch with folks and trying to draw them into the day shelter and offer these services,” Palmer said.
Access to behavioral health therapy is a personal issue for Palmer. She said a member of her family who previously experienced homelessness and also had substance abuse and mental health disorders eventually got help.
“I think behavioral health is the key; he’s now housed,” Palmer said. “He’s worked with an ACT team in the city and he hasn’t been hospitalized in probably five years, which is incredible for the level of his acuteness.”
ACT stands for assertive community treatment, Palmer said — “like a hospital without walls.”
“You’ve got a peer worker, a case worker, psychiatrist, a nurse, counselor — every person sees every person — and every morning they meet and they talk about the client,” she said. “It’s a really great wraparound and it reaches people that just don’t do well in hospital settings.”
The behavioral health center increases the nonprofit’s footprint in Albuquerque’s Wells Park neighborhood near Downtown. HopeWorks also operates the 42-unit Hope Village apartment complex, the day shelter formerly known as the St. Martin’s Hospitality Center and Hope Center, where its administrative offices are located.
“The key to trauma-informed care is not saying: What did you do? It’s saying: What happened to you? It’s as simple as that,” Palmer said. “Because at the end of the day it’s a person without a house, it’s a woman having to go to the bathroom outside, it’s a child without warm clothes.”
More is at hopeworksnm.org.