It’s been a long and frustrating quest for the city to find a new operator for Gateway West, formerly the Westside Emergency Housing Center. After eight months of searching — and about 90 days until an emergency contract expires — it’s still unclear who is willing or able to take on the task. The facility […]
Housing & Homelessness
Posted inAlbuquerque, Bernalillo County, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov.
Bernalillo County buries 222 unclaimed residents
Bernalillo County officials and members of the public gathered Thursday morning to recognize 222 deceased residents as part of its unclaimed indigent cremation program — the highest number since the initiative began in 2012. A ceremony was held at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque where each person’s name was read. Urns containing ashes from cremations […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Bernalillo County, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
Transient bookings at MDC on the rise
The number of inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) who are classified as transient is on the rise — a trend that’s concerning to advocates who work with those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque. The MDC is run by Bernalillo County and is the largest county jail in the state. It has an average inmate […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Bernalillo County, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
County commissioners to hear presentation on mobile hygiene units
Some Bernalillo County residents may take handwashing, showers and other personal hygiene actions for granted. But those without permanent or reliable housing don’t have as many opportunities to keep up with personal hygiene and therefore can be at risk for a variety of health issues. Some say the answer might be as simple as a […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News
Debate on more tax dollars for the unhoused draws concerned citizens
Are more tax dollars needed to provide housing for those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque? There were no simple solutions during a Saturday debate at the International District Library — and no shouting matches either — which was the point. The debate was the first for the North-Central New Mexico Alliance of the national nonprofit Braver […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News
Advocates denounce ‘criminalization’ of city’s unhoused population
Two consistent issues of concern among city officials, residents and business owners in Albuquerque are crime and homelessness. But conflating the two is a mistake and leads to the baseless stigmatization and criminalization of the unhoused, say advocates for those living on the streets and in shelters. Dozens of advocates and activists gathered at Robinson […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News
City, Human Rights Board clash on homelessness
A rift formed this summer between the city and its Human Rights Board over an analysis of the state of those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque.The result is that a final report to be issued to the city won’t be submitted. Even though the all-volunteer board has no legal jurisdiction, it is empowered by city ordinance […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov.
County commissioners delay funding for pallet homes, reaffirm support
Bernalillo County commissioners Tuesday reaffirmed support for an effort to combat the local homelessness problem, despite voting to move money they had designated for it elsewhere. At their regular meeting, commissioners decided to redistribute $600,000 that had been earmarked for a pallet-home campus planned by the City of Albuquerque. City leaders envision the pallet homes […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
City Council approves $2.4 million in tax incentives for four housing projects
The City Council approved $2.4 million in tax incentives for four housing projects Wednesday night. During their Wednesday meeting, city councilors unanimously passed four bills from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency for housing projects expected to add 300 housing units across four developments. The bills were sponsored by Councilor Nichole Rogers and introduced at the last […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
As temperatures rise, most vulnerable communities are often the hottest
Summer 2024 in Albuquerque is on track to be one of the hottest on record — adding to a string of high temps in recent years that have packed a punch. But heat in the metro isn’t evenly distributed — it tends to be most intense in historically underserved areas, in part due to an […]