Crossroads for Women, a local Albuquerque nonprofit, is receiving $1 million in funding from the federal government to help formerly incarcerated women get their lives back together.
The funding comes at an optimal time because the nonprofit has experienced an increased demand for their provided services, according to KOB4. The funds allow Crossroads to offer more support to women in need.
"If we don't have resources like Crossroads, then we will see more people who are dealing and navigating mental health issues and not having access to services," Crossroads spokesperson Cory Lee said, according to KOB4. "More people who are navigating substance abuse issues and more people navigating homelessness."
According to KOB4, Crossroads provides services to formerly incarcerated women to support their mental health, including overcoming substance abuse, job training and finding housing.
"We're here to go at their pace, meet them where they're at," Lee told KOB4.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) serves on the Appropriations Committee that helped make the $1 million in funding possible, according to KOB4.
"I think there's a pretty bright line between violent crime and the necessity of incarceration for people who are a danger to others – and then taking people who've fallen into criminal activity or in particular into addiction and getting them to a place where they're actually benefiting society; where they're housed, where they're holding down a job and where they're part of the solution, rather than part of the problem," Heinrich said, according to KOB4.
KOB4 reports the larger majority of funding will go toward the south wing of the 15,000-square-foot building.
Crossroads origins date back to 1997, according to the nonprofit, which was first founded by a $75,000 donation.