Albuquerque Woman Rebuilds Her Life Through City Recovery Programs

ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque woman is rebuilding her life after years of homelessness and addiction, thanks to the city’s coordinated network of recovery and housing programs and the compassionate hands-on support of the Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS).

For 42-year-old Angela Sanchez, these services did more than guide her toward stability. She says they saved her life.

Sanchez faced decades of substance use beginning at age 13 and experienced long stretches of homelessness, including living in her car after losing housing. After a particularly difficult withdrawal, she reached a moment of clarity.

“That was when I knew I needed help,” said Sanchez. “The worst thing is being on the streets with no stability.”

Her path to recovery began when Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless referred her to the Gateway Center. There she could safely store her belongings, get rest, and – most importantly – was connected with ACS’s Opioid Education and Prevention (OEP) team.

ACS OEP Certified Peer Support Worker Ernesto Ortiz and his team helped her navigate unfamiliar systems, offering trauma informed support and consistent engagement as she took the first steps in her recovery journey.

“It takes a lot of courage and strength to ask for help,” said Ortiz. “Angela did the hard work, and we’re grateful to walk alongside her.”

From there, Sanchez entered treatment at Turning Point Recovery Center, completing its 30-day women’s residential detox program, and continued on at Choice Recovery Path, a 120-day sober living program.

While at Choice Recovery Path, Sanchez signed up for the Gateway networks’ newsletter which highlighted the City’s soon to open Gateway Recovery, a 46-pallet home micro-community that provides psychoeducation, life skills, meals, therapy, and case management.

Sanchez spent five months at Gateway Recovery, building stability and preparing for independence. Just recently, she moved into her own apartment in Northwest Albuquerque. She has also held job at a local restaurant for more than nine months, both major milestone in how far she has come.

“Angela’s story shows these programs are working and that recovery is possible when we invest in people,” said Mayor Tim Keller.

“Without ACS coming in and helping me navigate these unique situations, I don’t know where the hell I would be,” said Sanchez. “The City programs and ACS gave me a chance, and now I’m finally getting my life back.”

This month, Sanchez celebrates one full year of sobriety, a powerful reminder of what compassionate outreach, coordinated services, and trauma-informed care can help people achieve. 

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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.