Albuquerque Community Safety Helps Man’s Journey Through Addiction and Violence to Stability and Entrepreneurship
City’s trauma-informed approach helps resident rebuild his life
ALBUQUERQUE - A survivor of gun violence who once struggled with fentanyl addiction, homelessness, and devastating personal loss is now sober, stably housed, and running his own business—thanks to his determination and the compassionate, trauma-informed approach, and coordinated support of Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS)
Elijah Chavez, 33, spent six years battling fentanyl addiction and three years living on the streets. During that time, he survived multiple life-threatening events, including an overdose in which both he and his brother lost consciousness. Chavez survived, but his brother tragically died. Months later, Chavez was seriously injured in a drive-by shooting. Unable to walk for several days, he was hospitalized and it was there that he met Freddie Sedillo, a Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) from ACS’s Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HBVIP).
Through strong partnerships with local hospitals, HBVIP provides immediate safety planning, emotional support, connections to comprehensive system of care, and peer-based services.
“I woke up in the hospital thinking this was the end,” said Chavez. “ACS didn’t judge me - they just helped me believe I could start over. That changed everything. I wanted to get clean.”
Upon discharge from the hospital, Chavez was connected with ACS’s Opioid Education and Prevention (OEP) team, where other Certified Peer Support Workers helped place him at a local recovery center. With ongoing guidance and encouragement from ACS’s peer support workers, he completed treatment, stabilized his life, and began building a future he once thought was out of reach.
“Elijah’s story is powerful because it shows what happens when we meet people with compassion and provide real pathways to recovery,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “ACS is transforming public safety in Albuquerque, and success stories like his remind us why this work matters.”
Today, Chavez is sober, living in his own apartment, working weekdays for a local groomer and operating his own mobile dog grooming business on weekends.
“Elijah put in the hard work, and we’re honored to support him,” said OEP CPSW Denise Thomas. “Recovery is possible, and stories like his help others believe that.”
ACS remains committed to delivering trauma-informed, community-centered services that meet people where they are and help them move toward healthier futures.
If you or someone you know would benefit from these services, please reach out to [email protected], and a member of our peer support team will follow up.
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About Albuquerque Community Safety: ACS is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.