The Nob Hill Neighborhood Association and the Monte Vista Christian Church have teamed up to provide some relief for those experiencing homelessness. Church members and neighborhood residents are meeting to assemble care kits with supplies that are then distributed to the area’s unhoused.
The two spearheading the initiative — Rev. Dawn Rosignol, the senior minister at Monte Vista, and Nob Hill resident Meta Hirschl — say it is a small act that’s had a notable ripple effect.
The church wanted to collaborate on projects to serve the Nob Hill community and Hirschl had become frustrated with escalating complaints on the association’s listserv regarding people in tents in alleyways and on properties.
“I wanted to do something proactive,” Hirschl said. “I was so tired of people just complaining and ranting.”
Hirschl has lived in Nob Hill for decades and said she’s been politically active for most of her life — attending meetings with political leaders and voicing concerns. Rosignol, meanwhile, had been addressing homelessness at church services and had launched a service project for Monte Vista’s kids, helping to assemble the care kits.
“To show them about caring for others and not judging others; that there are people who need help, so here’s how we can help,” Rosignol said. “We can’t fix the situation but you can do something with compassion.”
After connecting with Hirschl, Rosignol set up a separate kit assembling event with the neighborhood association. Its first gathering took place last month with 25 people and the group put together several dozen kits.
“People came and had a great time and immediately jumped in and started an assembly line,” Rosignol said.
The kits typically include a protein snack bar, packet of tuna, fruit cup, hygiene products, water, socks, sunscreen, lip balm and other items. The church’s kids decorate a message in the kit that says “God Loves You.”
Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) staff joined church members and Nob Hill residents at the event. ACS responds to nonemergency situations throughout the city, often involving encampments with those experiencing homelessness. It offers social services and organizes transportation to city facilities like the Westside Emergency Housing Center and the Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub.
“We all went out afterwards and got to know each other better,” Rosignol said. “That’s how you can build coalitions and partnerships. You can make a bigger impact by partnering with others, not just other churches but other organizations.”
Rosignol and Hirschl, who attended the recent opening of ACS’ new headquarters, said they were impressed with the willingness of the staff to help assemble the kits. It distributes the kits when responding to calls.
“Those relationships are important to have that bigger impact,” Rosignol said. “We’re supporting them and they are showing up for us.”
ACS staff told the pair that they’re used to people criticizing the department for not doing enough.
“For us to say instead: how can we help and all be part of the solution? They said that they’d never heard that before,” Rosignol said.
She said ACS recently visited a man living in a tent on the west side of the church.
“I’d taken a kit to him and ACS went out and talked to him,” Rosignol said. “He wants them to check on him again because he’s having some back pain, but other than that he doesn’t really want any help right now and he’s keeping the place clean.”
Rosignol said she told the man that as long as he’s not threatening or harassing neighbors, she’s OK with him being there.
‘If you live in Nob Hill, you’re experiencing something’
Nob Hill shares a border with the city’s troubled International District — an area with stark reminders that people are living on the streets with mental health and addiction issues.
“I’ve gotten so frustrated. I’ve seen nothing but deterioration,” Hirschl said. “It’s worse than it has ever been. People are upset. But rather than complain, have ideas.”
Hirschl and her husband often walk their dogs around the neighborhood from their home near Central Avenue and Girard Boulevard. She keeps kits in her car to hand out.
“If you live in Nob Hill, you’re experiencing something,” Hirschl said. “We’re not immune to not wanting our house to be destroyed, of course, but at the same time, we wanted to do something that was hands-on.”
Hirschl said Nob Hill residents are largely grateful for the new opportunity to help.
“Most people would like to do something positive about a problem that is in your face every day,” she said. “If you live where I live, you are seeing people in distress.”
Hirschl admitted that sometimes she feels unsafe.
“I didn’t answer the door at 6 a.m. in the middle of winter when two homeless people were ringing my doorbell, because I thought it was dangerous,” she said. “I called 311 and somebody came. I was dying to give them a blanket, but I thought it was too risky.”
To participate
Rosignol has set up donation bins at the church, which is a short walk from Nob Hill’s business district at 3501 Campus Blvd. NE. There’s one for the kids’ service project and one for the neighborhood association. She also accepts money donations to be used for kit supplies.
The public is invited to help assemble the kits on the third Tuesday of the month at the church.
The next event is scheduled for Aug. 20. For more information and to participate, contact Rosignol at revdawn@montevista.org. More on the Nob Hill Neighborhood Association is here.