City of Albuquerque Moves to Next Phase for Gateway Center
April 12, 2021
The City of Albuquerque’s Department of Family & Community Services announced that it will move into the next phase of planning for the Gateway Center project, with the Gibson Medical Center to serve as a health hub. FCS will build upon the previous community input process that included the City’s Community Input Session at the Convention Center, online surveys in English and Spanish, and focus groups with people experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve heard loud and clear for years about the challenges to access services throughout Central New Mexico,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This project was passed by the voters as part of a broad spectrum of efforts with the City and County to provide compassionate help to those in need.”
“We will continue to work with our longstanding providers who serve the unhoused and offer behavioral health services to lend their expertise and perspective on how this facility can operate most effectively,” said Carol Pierce, Director of the City’s Family and Community Services Department. “The City is working to address the gaps in the support network for those experiencing homelessness and suffering from addiction, in partnership with the experts and organizations that have dedicated their lives to helping those in need, to best operationalize services going forward.”
FCS has begun reaching out to the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses to help shape the Gateway Center. Throughout April, the City will engage with neighborhood associations and coalitions, chambers of commerce and businesses, partners, schools, and area elected officials.
“If you grew up in Albuquerque, you know and love someone that would benefit from the resources to be offered at this center,” said County Commissioner Adriann Barboa. “We are a community of neighborhoods and I am proud that Bernalillo County is stepping in to support all of our neighbors, even those living unsheltered. When we focus support and resources to our most vulnerable residents, we all benefit.”
“Meaningful community input has been the cornerstone of this journey from the very beginning—from site selection to mapping out necessary services with partners – and was a big part of why we chose Gibson Medical Center as a location,” said Lisa Huval, Deputy Director for Housing and Homelessness with Family and Community Services. “In the next phase, we will work with surrounding neighborhoods and businesses to set up the facility to serve as a good neighbor.”
The City plans to host meetings with neighborhood associations, coalitions and businesses to talk through each stage of the development process. Community engagement meetings will be facilitated virtually until in-person meetings are deemed appropriate under the Public Health Order.