Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) has reported a significant increase in the number of individuals transported to emergency overnight shelters during December. The ACS Emergency Overnight Shelter Transportation Service, relaunched on November 1, 2025, aims to protect people experiencing homelessness from cold weather by offering transportation to local shelters.
According to the City of Albuquerque, ACS teams operate nightly from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., responding not only to hotline calls but also conducting proactive outreach throughout the city. In December alone, more than 1,230 people were taken to shelters—marking the highest monthly figure since the service began. This represents a 136% rise compared with November 2025 and a 92% increase over December 2024.
Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Making sure people have a warm, secure place to sleep during cold nights is a top priority,” he said. “By directly connecting individuals to shelter, ACS is providing a vital service that protects lives when the weather becomes dangerous.”
Walter Adams, Deputy Director of Field Operations for ACS, added: “This is more than transportation, it’s about dignity, safety, and care. Our teams are out overnight to make sure people aren’t left to face extreme cold on their own and can reach a warm, safe place when they need it most.”
ACS works closely with local shelter partners and remains operational through March 2026 as winter conditions persist. Those needing shelter can call the ACS hotline at 505-651-5515 for assistance.
The City of Albuquerque operates under a council structure responsible for adopting policies and legislation consistent with its charter goals (https://www.cabq.gov/council/council-history). It oversees community development initiatives like ACS and maintains historic venues such as the KiMo Theatre—a cultural landmark known for its Pueblo Deco architecture (https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/kimo/history-of-the-kimo).
###
