Councilors demand results as city's largest shelter transitions to new operator

Gateway West will have a new operator soon.

On Monday city councilors voted unanimously to approve a $5 million contract that ends June 30 with Chicanos Por La Causa to operate the shelter.

Gateway West is a city-run shelter with over 600 beds on the city’s far West Side near Double Eagle II Airport.

The current operator is Heading Home — who has held the contract since 2018.

A news release sent out Monday following the vote said “Beginning immediately, the City of Albuquerque, CPLC, and Heading Home will work together to ensure a smooth transition.”

While Chicanos Por La Causa will take over case management for those at the shelter under 60 years old, a second contract for those 60 and older with Sierra Health Care Inc. is still waiting for approval from the council.

City Councilor Renée Grout, who represents the southern Foothills, said she wants to see tangible results from the contract.

“We're spending so much money. But we're not seeing results on the streets, and we're seeing people still. I don't like seeing people on the streets. I don't like seeing what's happening to them. I just don't like it. It's not healthy," Grout said. “We're spending a ton of money on this, but we're not seeing change. And I want to see change. I want to see these people have better lives. I want to see them on a soft bed with a warm blanket, and I want to see them in a permanent home.”

City Councilor Brook Bassan, who represents the Northeast Heights, said she also wanted to see results, and beds filled.

“The point is, if there are an estimated 3,000 to 5000 people that are unhoused in Albuquerque, I don't see a reason why all 800 of those beds couldn’t have somebody in them, regardless of the dollar amount,” she said. “We should fill what we do have before we start doing more studies and before we do more evaluations.”

According to the city's new Shelter Connect Dashboard, there were over 150 beds available at Gateway West Tuesday.

“Fill what we have and make it work,” Bassan said.