Hopeworks recently launched its new anti-homeless initiative, Hope Village, in hopes  of offering a more accessible emergency housing option. The efforts are being made through a collaboration with the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, according to KRQE. 

“We believe that housing is a fundamental right, and you can’t work on any other issues until you are housed. Once you are housed, that’s such a stabilizing factor, then you can begin to tackle some of these other things and challenges in your life,” said Hopeworks CEO, Annam Manthiram.

The new single-site permanent supportive housing development, located  on northwest Third Street in the greater Albuquerque area,  will take in homeless individuals without requiring them to remain drug- and alcohol-free. Eligibility will be determined by the individual’s housing, mental and behavioral status. 

The facility will offer around-the-clock care for the 42 residents it expects by the end of the month. Though maximum duration hasn’t been established, the agency hopes to serve as a stepping stone that will help inhabitants sober up and find employment and permanent housing, KRQE reports. There is no time limit on how long residents can stay at the facility. The only requirements are they are homeless and have some sort of documented mental or behavioral health issue.

“Albuquerque needs at least five or six more of these kinds of units, and so our hope is that this will be the model and that other agencies in the city, county, state can work together to build even more of these,” added Manthiram.

Despite feeling as if a step is being taken in the right direction, experts believe more efforts should be made to take down the ever-increasing social issue.

“Particularly for those experiencing homelessness, they need a lot of wrap-around care, mental and behavioral services around the clock, and that’s what this project represents its not just housing but it’s also the care that they need 24/7 whenever they need to stay healthy and housed,” Manthiram said.