In an effort to improve outreach and services for the unhoused community in Albuquerque, the City, along with its partners, has been working diligently to conduct the Point in Time Count (PIT) and connect with individuals in need of assistance.
The PIT count, which is conducted annually in January, serves as a valuable tool to guide outreach and services for people experiencing homelessness. While it may not capture the full extent of homelessness in the city, it provides important data that helps the City's application for federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
"The PIT count is a huge logistical undertaking every year, and it takes the entire network of homeless service providers," said William Bowen, Albuquerque CoC Program Officer for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. "The City of Albuquerque is one of the major members of this network, and we are grateful for the attention and effort they committed to helping us improve the count this year."
In order to ensure a more accurate count and make meaningful contact with individuals on the streets, the City implemented new procedures this year. The Albuquerque Community Safety Department's (ACS) Street Outreach division played a critical role, administering surveys, conducting the count, and connecting people to necessary resources. During the PIT, ACS also transported 47 people to shelters.
"We are focused on doing outreach that turns into better outcomes for the community we serve," said Jodie Jepson, Homelessness Liaison Administrator of Albuquerque Community Safety. "We are always focused on strengthening our partnerships to make sure we're getting people the right resources, and leaning on our network to maximize the impact we can have on our community."
Collaborating with The Center for Inclusive Health at The University of New Mexico Health and Health Sciences, the Street Medicine team works closely with ACS to provide medical care directly to people on the streets. This includes treating various medical needs and ensuring individuals have access to necessary medications and treatments.
"We are committed to caring for our community, and that includes connecting with people experiencing homelessness to make sure their medical needs are met," said Lindsay Fox, a physician assistant with UNM's Department of Internal Medicine. "By closely coordinating our care and outreach with other groups and departments, we're able to bridge gaps and get even more people the individual support they need."
These efforts are not limited to the PIT count but are ongoing throughout the year. The network of partners, including the City, the Coalition to End Homelessness, ACS, and the Street Medicine team, work collaboratively to improve outreach processes and ultimately get individuals into shelter or housing.
"This is a One Albuquerque effort that extends beyond just City departments," said Mayor Tim Keller. "It takes all of us working together to have a real impact on our city's most complex challenges, and this is a prime example of how we've adapted to our community's needs to get them the help they need."
By working together and leveraging partnerships, the City and its collaborators are making significant strides in improving outreach to the unhoused community in Albuquerque. Through initiatives like the PIT count and the provision of medical care, they are ensuring that individuals experiencing homelessness have access to the care and resources they need to improve their situations.
