An idea born under former Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry that provides day labor jobs for those experiencing homelessness could be making a comeback. “There’s a Better Way” was launched in 2015 and the initiative quickly gained national attention. After a year in operation, the Washington Post called it “a simple idea that works.” The […]
Housing & Homelessness
Posted inLocal Government
Commission publishes first-of-its-kind behavioral health ordinance
Bernalillo County residents may soon see a different, more efficient network aimed at helping them meet their behavioral health needs. The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the publication of an ordinance that would create a behavioral health authority that would unify county behavioral health efforts. Vice Chair Eric Olivas said before the meeting that […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness
Reps. Stansbury and Vasquez celebrate $16.3M in homelessness funding
More than a dozen nonprofit and city leaders who work in homelessness and housing services across the state met in Albuquerque on Tuesday to mark an infusion of $16.3 million in federal funds for its programs. A roundtable event at Cuidando Los Niños featured U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez, part of the New […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Uncategorized, Westside Albuquerque
Torrance County to Vote on Extending ICE Prison Contract
Torrance County’s elected officials will meet Wednesday to vote on whether to extend a contract allowing the federal government to incarcerate asylum seekers in central New Mexico. The agenda for tomorrow’s Torrance County Commission meeting includes a request from County Manager Janice Barela to sign an amendment to the contract between the county government and […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Uncategorized, Westside Albuquerque
Torrance County to Vote on Extending ICE Prison Contract
Torrance County’s elected officials will meet Wednesday to vote on whether to extend a contract allowing the federal government to incarcerate asylum seekers in central New Mexico. The agenda for tomorrow’s Torrance County Commission meeting includes a request from County Manager Janice Barela to sign an amendment to the contract between the county government and […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
What to know: ABQ’s first pallet home campus
The city unveiled plans Monday to develop a transitional recovery housing campus with 50 pallet homes, but with just a handful of specifics. Since then, we’ve heard from City Desk ABQ readers wanting to know more so we tracked down some answers. The project — the first of its kind in Albuquerque — was allocated […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
The mayor said the city needs new 5,000 homes. His budget proposes less than 200.
In 2022, Mayor Tim Keller announced his goal to have 5,000 housing units across the city by 2025 to help with the city’s affordable “housing crisis.” So far 165 affordable units have been built and the next fiscal year’s budget includes funding for 195 housing units — still far short of the goal. Katie Simon, […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
City survey shows residents concerned about direction city is headed
Albuquerque residents say they’re concerned about the city’s direction, and although many feel that city leaders have put forth good ideas on how to address those issues, 61% of residents polled feel the city is unresponsive to their concerns. That’s the gist of the city’s annual survey, released Tuesday. When asked how they feel about […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
Councilors hear pleas for ceasefire
City Councilors made some changes to how the city will handle the administrative side of all the grants that it processes. But it was pleas for a resolution calling for an immediate Israeli ceasefire in Palestine that dominated public comment at the April 15 Albuquerque City Council meeting. Read about how city councilors decided to […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
City plans to install 50 pallet homes at former MVD site
In a close vote, the Albuquerque City Council agreed to allocate about a fifth of the opioid settlement funds the city has received so far toward developing a transitional recovery housing campus featuring pallet homes. The $5 million allocation passed in a 5-4 vote at an April 15 meeting. Councilors Joaquín Baca, Klarissa Peña, Brook […]