ABQ Times

City leaders will evaluate how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson will affect Albuquerque in the coming weeks. The City has expressed appreciation for the increased flexibility to enforce ordinances and emphasized its commitment to protecting the rights of unhoused individuals.

The City of Albuquerque responds to over 50 illegal camps daily. Outreach staff conduct welfare checks at these sites and provide services, including medical care, shelter, behavioral health support, and property storage. The Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) department evaluates and transports those who accept services, a process that will continue.

“I know there will be mixed reactions to this ruling in our community, so I want to be clear—the City will continue to do everything in our power to get people the help they need and to deal promptly with illegal encampments,” said Mayor Tim Keller.

The City of Albuquerque has made significant investments in recent years to increase shelter beds, resources, and pathways out of homelessness. The Westside Emergency Housing Center, previously open only at night and during winter, now operates year-round, 24/7 with increased bed capacity. Additionally, the Gateway provides shelter for families with wrap-around services aimed at accelerating permanent housing placement. By next spring, the Gateway is expected to nearly quadruple in size and serve 1,000 people daily. The City has also tripled supportive housing vouchers since FY18 and invested over $71 million since 2018 to bring more than 2,200 new housing units to market while converting underutilized hotels into housing.

“We know that everyone’s story is unique, and people need compassionate support and resources to exit homelessness and get the stable housing that they deserve,” said Gilbert Ramirez, Director of Health, Housing and Homelessness. “We are adding vital services and working with our partners to build out a robust continuum of care so we can lift up those struggling in our city.”

“ACS builds relationships with people experiencing homelessness through our outreach, and we work to establish trust so that people are comfortable getting the services they need,” said Albuquerque Community Safety Department Acting Director Jodie Esquibel. “We will continue to work in step with the community to connect people resources.”

The City has also collaborated extensively with Bernalillo County and UNM to address gaps in Albuquerque’s behavioral health and substance use treatment system. The newly opened Crisis Triage Center at UNM and the Gateway’s Medical Sobering facility set to open this fall aim to connect thousands of individuals annually with psychiatric support, peer assistance, and substance use recovery services while alleviating pressure on emergency rooms.