Investments in Gateway Will Permanently Bolster System of Care

January 13, 2023

While construction continues on Phase I of the Gateway, Mayor Keller and the City joined partners from Western Sky Community Care and Heading Home to celebrate the private investment of $3 Million in the project and the recent opening of Winter emergency beds at the Gibson Health Hub.

Western Sky’s investment ensures that Phase I of the Gateway will be ready for liftoff when construction concludes in April. The funds will be used for operations of the housing program and additional cultural care in the space.

“Western Sky is pleased to join Centene Charitable Foundation in supporting our state. Gateway will close some existing gaps in available health and community resources,” said Western Sky President and CEO Jean Wilms. “Our mission is to bring quality health care to all New Mexicans, and by joining the efforts to create tangible solutions, we are achieving that goal at its foundation.”

While the project moves forward, the City has capacity right now for up to 50 people to stay in emergency winter beds at Gibson Health Hub. The temporary shelter space started accepting guests by referral on January 10, 2023, and is open from 4:30p.m. to 7:30a.m. daily. These winter emergency beds give people a safe, warm place to stay.

The City also intends to ask the state legislature for $20 Million in capital funding for the second phase of the Gateway.

Capital funding from the legislature would represent a significant effort from the State to boost service resources in Albuquerque and in the next phase at the Gateway. The Phase II will expand the number of emergency overnight beds to include men and families, double the size of the Medical Respite unit, and increase the capacity of the Sobering Center.

“This is our moment to make big investments that will interrupt the cycles of homelessness we are seeing in our community” said Mayor Tim Keller. “The City of Albuquerque can’t do it by ourselves, we need the strength of our public and private partners working together.”