CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SIXTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-25-188 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Nichole Rogers, Tammy Fiebelkorn, Klarissa J. Peña, Renée Grout, by request
RESOLUTION
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Authorizing The Acceptance Of Funds From The State Of New Mexico And Appropriating Funding For Specific Homeless Services Programs And Facility Improvements And To A Specific Affordable Housing Project (Rogers, Fiebelkorn, Peña, Grout, by request)
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WHEREAS, following the 2025 Legislative Session, the Governor of the State of New Mexico signed into law HB 2, which, in part, appropriated $110,000,000 to “support housing, affordable housing, transitional housing and the expansion of housing services providers that facilitate behavioral health services and substance abuse recovery, homelessness assistance and prevention for persons with behavioral health needs;” and
WHEREAS, in 2024, the Governor signed into law HB2 (2024), which, in part, appropriated state GRO Fund money “for Statewide Homeless Initiatives;” and
WHEREAS, the City has been in communication with the State of New Mexico Department of Workforce Solution regarding an agreement for use of a portion of these funds; and
WHEREAS, the Young Adult Housing and Treatment Navigation Center will provide 41 beds specifically for unsheltered, vulnerable transition-aged youth, and will offer critical overnight housing, safety, case management, and supportive services tailored to meet the unique needs of young adults experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the Men’s Housing and Treatment Navigation Center at the Gateway Center provides 42 beds for short-term shelter and intensive support to 42 men at a time experiencing homelessness who are ready to transition into permanent housing, in which participants receive help with vital documents, housing applications, and referrals to treatment and health services, all in a trauma-informed setting, and is a program is critical to reducing time spent in shelters or on the streets by helping individuals move quickly and successfully into stable housing; and
WHEREAS, the Expanded Men’s Housing and Treatment Navigation Center at the Gateway Center provides short-term shelter and intensive support to an additional 50 men experiencing homelessness who are ready to transition into permanent housing, in which participants receive help with vital documents, housing applications, and referrals to treatment and health services, all in a trauma-informed setting, and is a program critical to reducing time spent in shelters or on the streets by helping individuals move quickly and successfully into stable housing; and
WHEREAS, the Expanded Women’s Housing Navigation and Treatment Program at the Gateway Center offers safe, short-term shelter paired with individualized support to help an additional 50 women experiencing homelessness who are ready to transition into permanent housing, in which participants receive help with vital documents, housing applications, and referrals to treatment and health services, all in a trauma-informed setting, and is a program is critical to reducing time spent in shelters or on the streets by helping individuals move quickly and successfully into stable housing; and
WHEREAS, the First Responder Receiving Area is designed to allow first responders to safely drop off individuals needing immediate care, and can accommodate short-term stays for up to 20 clients nightly, and will provide rapid stabilization, safety, and connection to ongoing supportive services, reducing strain on emergency resources; and
WHEREAS, the Medical Respite Facility is in need of partial roof replacement for sections of the roof that are beyond end of life; and
WHEREAS, Housing and Treatment Navigation Programs at Gateway Center have shared costs that benefit multiple programs; and
WHEREAS, Gateway West, serving up to 721 people nightly, is a critical piece of our city's emergency response infrastructure and a vital resource for connecting people to housing, healthcare, and stability; and
WHEREAS, final dorms at Gateway West require updates including the installation of new flooring, showers, restrooms, and lighting, as well as the addition of security cameras for enhanced safety; these improvements will help ensure the facility meets the needs of its residents and complies with modern standards of safety and accessibility; and
WHEREAS, on May 19, 2025 City Council approved EC-25-393 Recommendation of Award for medical sheltering and social support services, which requested authorization to establish agreements with Community Bridges Inc. for Gateway Men’s Housing Navigation services and First Responder Receiving Area services, as well as authorization to establish an agreement with Horizons Services, Inc. for Medical Sobering services; and
WHEREAS, EC-25-426 Request Approval to Add Funds to the Professional Service Agreement (CCN# 2025PT00000832.1) with Chicanos Por La Causa to Operate Gateway Women's Housing Navigation Expansion is pending Council approval; and
WHEREAS, EC-25-427 Request Approval to Add Funds to a Professional Services Agreement with Community Bridges to Operate Gateway Men's Housing Navigation Expansion is pending Council approval; and
WHEREAS, EC-25-428 Request Authorization to Establish a Professional Service Agreement with Youth Development Incorporated (YDI) to Provide Young Adult Sheltering, Case Management, and Housing Navigation Services is pending Council approval; and
WHEREAS, the Albuquerque Region Housing Needs Assessment (Root Policy Research, 2024) found that between 2010 and 2022, the proportion of residents aged 65 and older increased from 12% to 17% in Albuquerque, and that Albuquerque’s increasing proportion of older adults means more small households that need smaller units or multi-family units with nearby services; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 assessment also found that over half (52%) of all renters are cost burdened because they pay more than 30% of their income on housing, and significant subsidies are needed to make housing affordable; and
WHEREAS, a 2025 Pew Charitable Trust study found that median monthly rent in New Mexico increased 58% from March 2017 to March 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Pew study also concluded that New Mexico is facing a housing shortage and that new data confirms that more housing supply results in lower housing costs; and
WHEREAS, Juniper Flats, formerly the Ramada Inn located at 25 Hotel Circle NE, is currently undergoing conversion into apartments, involving a complete interior and exterior overhaul as well as environmental remediation, and upon completion will provide 204 permanent affordable apartments for unhoused seniors earning below 60% the Area Median Income (AMI) as determined by HUD; and
WHEREAS, Juniper Flats will be used exclusively to house low-income seniors; and
WHEREAS, completion of construction on Juniper Flats is anticipated in September 2025 the operational date is anticipated to be in October 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to acquire Juniper Flats; and
WHEREAS, the $5 million in state funding will leverage up to $22 million in bond funds depending on the amount of capital write down.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. Council hereby approves and authorizes the appropriation of $21,839,604 from the State of New Mexico, General Appropriation Act of 2024 and 2025 and $45,000 for indirect costs from the Transfer to Operating Grants Fund Program in the General Fund, to the Health, Housing, and Homelessness Department in the Operating Grants Fund 265 for Fiscal Year 2026.
SECTION 2. These funds shall be used for specific homeless services programs, facility improvements, and the purchase of Juniper Flats affordable housing project, as specified in the attached agreements between the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Resolution shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability of that section, paragraph, clause or provision shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Resolution.