Albuquerque Community Safety Responders Provide Critical Support to Family in Crisis

ALBUQUERQUE - In recent weeks, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Street Outreach responders played a vital role in protecting a mother and her three young children who were trapped in a dangerous living situation involving substance use and family conflict.

The emergency unfolded in a multi-generational household where the children’s grandmother, who was actively using fentanyl, left drug paraphernalia accessible and became aggressive when confronted.

The family had originally come to the home to escape domestic violence, only to find themselves in another unsafe environment. The mother had locked herself and her young children inside a room for protection. ACS’s Street Outreach team was called to the scene by Albuquerque Police after officers de-escalated the immediate conflict.

After arriving and learning more about the family’s situation, ACS responders quickly secured emergency placement for them at a safe house and coordinated with domestic violence shelter services to ensure ongoing support and protection. Referrals were also made for behavioral health care, case management, and long-term housing planning.

"This is exactly why we created ACS, to send trained responders who can support, and protect vulnerable families without relying solely on law enforcement," said Mayor Tim Keller. "Our teams step in where they’re needed most, and in this case, helped three children and their mom find safety and a path forward."

“It was heartbreaking to see what this family had gone through, but we were able to act quickly,” said ACS Street Outreach Responder Mark Richardson. “We’re not just there to respond, we’re there to walk with them toward stability and healing.”

ACS continues to lead the way in providing trauma-informed, community-centered safety solutions for Albuquerque’s most at-risk residents. From mental health support to housing navigation, ACS teams are available 24/7 to respond to non-violent emergencies reducing the burden on police and providing long-term solutions for the city’s most vulnerable residents.

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Albuquerque Community Safety 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.