Katie Simon, public affairs specialist of the Family and Community Services, The Department of Family and Community Services provides quality health and social services, housing, recreation and education to improve the quality of life for every community in Albuquerque, is excited about the possibilities that the changing seasons bring.
“We’re excited that as the weather gets colder we’re providing more options for people to go safely and get connected," Simon said.
Because city funding is on the way, two Safe Outdoor Spaces in Albuquerque are one big step closer to becoming operational. To help fund their two approved spaces at the Albuquerque Opportunity Center and the Westside Emergency Housing Center, the Family and Community Services Department is working with Heading Home.
“We’re excited that as the weather gets colder, we’re providing more options for people to go safely and get connected," Simon said. "We are helping them out with staffing costs for their case managers and security personnel, as well as utilities for their site, and certain things like parking barriers out at the WEHC to separate spaces – and then the fence over at AOC.”
Both spaces could open by the end of the month, with 12 spots at the opportunity center and 40 on the West Side. They are spots are approved for vehicles only.
“That’s still 52 people that didn’t have a safe place to park beforehand, who are worried about their personal safety, who didn’t have a guaranteed place to use the bathroom," Simon said. "And can much more easily be connected to case management, job training, anything that helps them move forward with their lives.”
According to Simon, the $750,000 pot of money approved by the city isn’t all spoken for at this point, adding, “should there be future Safe Outdoor Spaces, we’ll be able to support them."
A new nonprofit that applied to run the approved space on Menaul near the interstate called Dawn Legacy Pointe is still waiting on the result of several appeals. But Simon said funding isn’t off the table for them, or others who get approved in the future, adding that: “We’re kind of starting with six months at a time, see if they work, see how many people we can help in that timeframe. And if we can make a good argument for it, we’ll come back to city council next year and ask for money as we need it.”