OPINION: Winter Sheltering Plan offers homeless immediate support and resources

Colder weather is settling into the Metro, and the city of Albuquerque is ready with our revitalized Winter Sheltering Plan.

Winter is an extremely challenging time for our unsheltered community, and we want the most vulnerable in our city to know that there are resources and support available.

The goal of our Winter Sheltering Plan is to assist as many people as possible. It’s important to remember that shelter, like any resource, is a choice, and people have the right to refuse. Even so, first responders from Albuquerque Community Safety will continue to offer shelter beds and other resources to all unsheltered residents because one day, like we’ve seen many times before, their answer could be “yes.”

Beds are available. This year, we launched the Shelter Connect Dashboard to track available shelter beds throughout the city. The dashboard is available to the public and is a tool for us to help get folks indoors. ACS will once again operate its emergency, after-hours transportation service to shelters between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Community members can call (505) 418-6178 to request transportation.

This year, ACS can transport individuals to the new First Responder Receiving area at the Gateway Center during the overnight hours, getting people inside, warm and safe.

The city’s Department of Health, Housing and Homelessness will activate winter sheltering protocols when outdoor temperatures are freezing, which can put individuals at risk of cold-related injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia. An emergency alert on the city’s website will signal that plan is in effect.

Once the alert is activated, the first step is to expand Gateway West’s capacity by 30 beds. Gateway West is the city’s largest shelter and is undergoing dramatic upgrades. To date, six dorms have been renovated with new flooring, more comfortable beds with secure under-bed storage, and updated bathrooms.

Step two is activating additional emergency sheltering at the First Responder Receiving area at Gateway Center. The Receiving Area opened in June and has already been successful in providing shelter and connection to resources. As of Nov. 1, the First Responder Receiving area has served 234 individuals. This space will help provide shelter and address immediate needs.

If needed, additional sheltering can be added at again at Gateway West, as well as multi-generational and community centers, to get folk off the streets.

In August, Mayor Tim Keller introduced the city’s Metro Homelessness Initiative, an all-in, multi-faceted approach to addressing the challenges of homelessness, acknowledging that no one entity can take it all on by themselves. Throughout the winter, we will work closely with our community partners, including day shelters, to help meet the need of those experiencing homelessness.

On the coldest days of the year, we are “all hands on deck” when it comes to helping our unhoused community. Our Winter Sheltering Plan leverages every resource, big and small, to make the most significant impact possible, at a time when it is needed most.

Jodie Esquibel is director of the Albuquerque Community Safety department. Gilbert Ramirez is director of the city’s Health, Housing and Homelessness Department.