The city of Albuquerque has announced that the University of New Mexico (UNM) Office of Community Health will manage the receiving area for first responders at the Gateway Center. This non-medical service, which operates 24/7, will provide a dedicated space for Albuquerque community safety and other first responders to bring individuals experiencing homelessness. The goal is to assist these individuals in connecting with social service options.
The Receiving Area, which includes a reception room, offices, and four triage rooms, is set to open to First Responders this month. Staff from the UNM Office of Community Health will work with clients to address their shelter, housing, and other needs. Initially, the facility will operate overnight, with plans for round-the-clock service as staffing allows, according to a press release by the city of Albuquerque.
Dr. Art Kaufman, UNM Vice President of Community Health said: "We’ve married two big strengths of UNM Health- public health policy and development, and the health system’s approach to create links to groups in the community that do great work during the day." He added: "We’re going to give people something to eat, a place to sleep, bathrooms, internet access and all the things people need when they’re in a traumatic situation and suddenly disconnected. We’ll be navigating clients to the social and health resources they need."
According to Gilbert Ramirez, Director of HHH: "We designed the Gateway to fill in gaps in our community’s homeless response system and this is one of those gaps." Ramirez further stated: "Dedicated staff will help people figure out what they need and get connected to vital resources they need to move forward that day."
The Gateway Center offers centrally located overnight beds and comprehensive support services designed to aid individuals on their housing journey. Additionally, it serves as a host campus for existing tenants delivering diverse services such as medical support, behavioral health assistance, and vocational support, according to the Gateway Center webpage provided by the city of Albuquerque.