Homeless Services

Homelessness is a harsh reality in Albuquerque and we’ve outlined a multi-faceted approach to try and help as many of our unhoused neighbors as possible. Our approach factors in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and more. In collaboration with our community partners, we’re addressing immediate needs while working to build Albuquerque’s first centrally located, 24/7, year-round homeless shelter.

Call 505-768-HELP(4357) for rental assistance, legal service, and to apply for housing programs.

Click on a topic below to learn more about how we are addressing homelessness and how you can help.

What We Are Doing

Homeless Help

How to Help

Gateway Center

Encampments

Safe Outdoor Spaces

What We are Doing

We are increasing emergency shelter options and adding transitional housing because housing is key. Housing allows folks to focus on other needs like finding employment, obtaining quality childcare, and taking care of physical and mental health.

Under Mayor Keller’s leadership, the City, along with community partners, has strengthened the overall system of care for people who are unhoused. The City, in collaboration with community partners, has:

• coordinated street outreach to people living in public spaces
• converted the Westside Emergency Housing Center to a year-round shelter, doubling the number of year-round shelter beds available
• increased annual investment in supportive housing by 44% since FY18
• invested $10 million in the Workforce Housing Trust Fund to create new, high-quality housing for lower and moderate-income Albuquerque residents
• launched a new $21.4 million emergency rental assistance program (ERAP) to keep people housed who are in danger of being evicted. Learn more at cabq.gov/rent.

View More Family & Community Services News

Find information on homelessness in Albuquerque below:

• Changing the Story
• Albuquerque Affordable Housing and Homelessness Needs Assessment
• Assessing Shelter Capacity Report
• Assessing Shelter Capacity Presentation
• HCC Coordinated Housing and Services Framework
• How Can Albuquerque Increase Affordable Housing and Reduce Homelessness
• 2022 Albuquerque Point-In-Time Report
• View the Framework Document

Homeless Help

Call 505-768-HELP(4357) for rental assistance, legal service, and to apply for housing programs.

The Department of Family and Community Services partners with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH) to operate the 768-HELP (4357) Helpline, to assist people experiencing a housing crisis to remain housed or exit homelessness quickly by connecting them to resources such as rental assistance and legal services or conduct the necessary assessment to register unhoused callers into the Coordinated Entry System to apply for supportive housing programs.

• Homeless Prevention
• Emergency Shelters and Street Outreach
• Supportive Housing
• Westside Emergency Housing Center
• Gateway Center
• Childcare
• Health Care
• Meals
• Community Support Shuttle
• ABQ at Home

How to Help

Donate to the OneABQ Housing Fund

Donate by clicking above or at any Wells Fargo Bank

Get Involved

• Contact your City Councilor and get involved with City Council meetings.
• Get involved with your neighborhood association
• Attend a meeting of the One Albuquerque Homeless Advisory Council
• Sign up to receive our HomelesSolutions newsletter
• Sign up to receive the Albuquerque Community Safety Department newsletter

Follow Family & Community Services on social media

Follow Albuquerque Community Safety on Social Media

Gateway Center

The City has recently acquired the Gibson Medical Center, which already serves as a health hub with existing tenants providing services. Plans to create a Gateway Center as part of this health hub will add additional health resources for the community as well as centrally located shelter beds accompanied by supports to connect people with treatments they need and housing. View Information About the Gateway Center

Encampments

How to Report

Encampments within city limits can be reported to 311. A member of the City outreach team will visit the reported site to address the encampment and offer resources.

Read the City of Albuquerque Encampment policy, revised October 2022. 

Safe Outdoor Spaces

A SOS is a lot, or a portion of a lot, developed to provide designated spaces for occupancy by tents, recreational vehicles, and/or light vehicles. Designated spaces are provided to occupants at no charge. A safe outdoor space offers social services and support facilities. The Department of Family & Community Services reviews Operations / Management / Security Plans for proposed safe outdoor spaces, which is required for the application to the Planning Department.

• Find more information about Safe Outdoor Spaces and how to apply at the Planning Department website.
• View FCS’s Safe Outdoor Space Guiding Document & Instruction Manual.

New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness

The City of Albuquerque is a member of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, which assists communities to create solutions to homelessness from prevention through permanent housing by using action, advocacy, and awareness.

Email: [email protected]
Homeless support: 505-768-4368
Admin team: 505-982-9000
Website: www.nmceh.org