Don Tarry Member At-Large PNM Resources | Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
The Albuquerque City Council has decided to allocate $4.5 million from opioid settlement funds to enhance the city's Gateway system. This decision, made on May 5, was part of a resolution sponsored by City Councilors Nichole L. Rogers, Tammy Fiebelkorn, Dan Champine, and Renée Grout. The allocated amount of $4,589,736 will be used to support and expand services for individuals in Albuquerque dealing with substance-use disorders.
Previously, these councilors had co-sponsored a resolution establishing an implementation plan for the opioid settlement funds. This plan directed resources towards nonprofits, local treatment providers, and the APS Crossroads program. With this week's appropriation, most of the current funds are now dedicated to community prevention and treatment efforts.
“This appropriation, in addition to the allocations approved last month, sets up a wide-ranging system of prevention and treatment options for the citizens of Albuquerque via city services, nonprofits, local treatment providers and APS,” stated Fiebelkorn. “This is what the citizens of Albuquerque asked for during the public input process, and I’m proud that my cosponsors and I were able to deliver.”
The funding will be used for several initiatives:
- Expanding medical support at the Sobering Center within the Gateway: This includes harm reduction measures, inpatient treatment programs, and overdose prevention services. It will also fund facilities like the First Responder Receiving Area and Micro Community Recovery Housing.
- Recovery Housing: Acknowledging the importance of stable housing in long-term recovery efforts, this investment aims to provide housing solutions for those transitioning from incarceration or unstable environments.
“The Council’s approval gives the city’s Gateway Center the ability to immediately assess substance use disorders and provide the necessary treatment for those in need,” Rogers said. “The funding for recovery housing is indispensable in successful addiction recovery.”
Once fully operational, Albuquerque's Gateway system is expected to manage over 26,000 patient encounters annually. It will offer low-barrier services informed by trauma experiences to connect individuals with long-term recovery support.
The Chamber has been advocating for a centralized 24/7 homeless shelter offering comprehensive services for years. The model for Gateway was inspired by Haven for Hope in San Antonio—a facility credited with reducing unsheltered homelessness downtown by 80% within two years after Mayor Tim Keller and other officials visited it during a benchmarking trip.
