The City of Albuquerque has allocated $4.5 million from an opioid settlement to fund three projects at the Gateway Center. This decision was formalized on May 28 when the City Council and Mayor's Office signed the legislation. The aim of these projects is to address drug use and homelessness in the area.
The Chamber has been a consistent advocate for the Gateway Center, supporting the 2019 bond approval for purchasing what was then known as Gibson Medical Center for $14 million. The Chamber's support is based on successful models in other cities where social services are combined with overnight sheltering to assist unhoused individuals in finding transitional and permanent housing.
Residents at the Gateway Center will have access to overnight beds and various services needed by people experiencing homelessness. Each resident will also be paired with a case manager, a housing case manager, and a peer support worker to help them achieve stability during their stay.
Gateway Center in Albuquerque
| Provided Photo
The facility hosts 10 partner organizations offering medical, behavioral health, housing navigation, and immigration services. The three funded projects include:
- $2.25 million for the Medical Sobering Center, which will accommodate up to 50 individuals recovering from severe intoxication and is expected to open later this summer.
- $1.4 million for the First Responder Receiving Area, providing a place for police and first responders to bring individuals needing drug and mental health services outside regular hours.
- $950,000 for Gateway Recovery, consisting of 46 tiny homes where individuals recovering from addiction can live and receive treatment for up to a year.
City officials said that Albuquerque will receive nearly $80 million over 18 years through this settlement. The funds must be used to mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic following lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies accused of overprescribing opioids.
Information from this article can be found here.
