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ACS Connect to Care Sees Record Number of Participants at the International District Library Event

Weekly pop-up provides vital services for the unhoused
August 19, 2024

ALBUQUERQUE – Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) and its partners assisted a record number of participants at a recent Connect to Care event, which took place at the International District Library located at 7601 Central Ave NE. A total of 57 members of the unhoused community visited the August 6 pop-up event where they took housing assessments, were offered transportations to shelters, had access to medical treatment, and received many other services.

The ACS Connect to Care initiative represents a proactive, cross-collaborative outreach model to addressing homelessness. By working closely with various City of Albuquerque departments, community partners, and local service providers, ACS organizes targeted pop-up events designed to reach unsheltered individuals and connect them with essential support. These weekly events are tailored to address immediate needs and provide long-term assistance, facilitating access to vital resources for those in need.

“This is about figuring out new ways to support our community. Homelessness is a complex challenge, and we must persist in finding solutions,” said ACS Division Manager, Adam Erhard. “We can’t abandon our people; it’s a tough issue, and we need to employ various strategies to help those in need.”

The August 6 ACS Connect to Care event partners included:

  • ACS Street Outreach Team
  • ACS Case Navigation Team
  • ACS Community-Oriented Response & Assistance Team (CORA)
  • ACS Opioid Prevention and Education Team (OEP)
  • UNM's General Internal Medicine Division
  • New Mexico Veterans Integration Center
  • New Mexico Vets for Pets
  • First Nations Community HealthSource
  • Albuquerque Police Department
  • New Mexico State Police Victim Advocate Representatives

Event Highlights:

  • 57 total individuals engaged and received services
  • 29 housing assessments completed
  • 20 individuals provided with medical treatment
  • 2 Section 8 housing assessments completed
  • 4 individuals transported to shelter
  • 3 Veterans connected to resources via Veterans Integration Center
  • 1 Domestic Violence victim referred to CORA
  • 1 Sex Trafficking Victim Transported to First Nations Community HealthSource
  • 11 boxes of Narcan distributed
  • 6 dogs examined
    • 8 bags of dry dogfood, 2 cans of wet dogfood, 5 dog bowls, and 1 leash/collar distributed to pets in need

ACS Connect to Care has proven to be highly effective in helping address the needs of unsheltered individuals in Albuquerque. By hosting pop-up events at carefully chosen locations, ACS has successfully delivered essential services directly to those in greatest need, building trust and boosting engagement. Traditional outreach methods often fall short due to system barriers, geographical challenges, and the acuity of a respective individuals' needs.

“Holding these events consistently for members of our community builds trust and that is the most essential part to folks taking advantage of the services ACS and our partners offer,” said ACS Field Operations, Chris Blystone.

This program has emerged as a successful model for connecting with individuals, offering them resources, and ultimately securing long-term housing. Its effectiveness has drawn attention from the New Mexico Department of Health, which sent five experts to the recent event and is looking to collaborate with ACS at future events. ACS is committed to expanding this program in response to its success and the growing demand for its services.