The Albuquerque City Council has approved a new agreement with Youth Development Inc. (YDI) to provide shelter, case management, and housing navigation services for young adults experiencing homelessness. The approval of EC-25-428 marks a step in the city’s plan to build a continuum of care for residents aged 18 to 25 who are without stable housing.
This initiative follows findings from a 2022 Comprehensive Needs Assessment, which estimated that between 1,200 and 2,300 young people experience homelessness each night in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The planned Youth Center will offer a safe environment tailored to the needs of transition-aged youth who often lack family support.
“When I learned about the unique challenges faced by unhoused young people in our community, my heart broke,” said Renée Grout, District 9 City Councilor. “Anyone who has parented a young adult knows they need independence as well as support. But too many young people don’t get the support they need from their own families. While government institutions can never take the place of a loving, supportive family, YDI will provide a safe space and age-appropriate services where they can continue to learn and grow to maturity. That’s why I’m so excited about this contract with YDI. They’ve been around for over 50 years, and they know our community.”
“Finalizing this contract with YDI is a reminder of what can happen when vision meets action,” said City Council President Brook Bassan, Council District 4. “This is a collaborative effort to create lasting change for young people who need us most.”
The council’s approach involved input from stakeholders and homeless youth themselves to shape services that emphasize rapid stabilization, life skills development, and transitions into permanent living situations.
“I’m overjoyed the Council approved this contract with YDI and to see our years of work moving closer to reality,” said District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. “I’m proud that District 7 continues to lead with compassion, opening its arms to support unhoused youth at a time when too many communities are saying ‘not in my backyard.’”
The first phase of the project used more than $14 million in funding to open accommodations with 23 beds for up to 90 days per resident. Onsite amenities include kitchen facilities, laundry access, intake offices, and case management services developed with input from local providers.
Future phases will use an additional $7.7 million in funds still available for expansion efforts:
– Phase II aims to add another 40 beds along with new training spaces and recreational areas.
– Phase III plans call for building 50 transitional living units for those completing six months of programming.
Completion of all three phases is intended to help move young adults from crisis toward independent living.
