City Advances New Gateway Young Adult Housing & Treatment Navigation Center to Support 18–25-Year-Olds Transitioning Into Adulthood

The City of Albuquerque today announced major progress on the Gateway Young Adult Housing and Treatment Navigation Center, a key expansion of Mayor Tim Keller’s Gateway initiative to better serve community members experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, or substance use challenges. The new campus will specifically support unhoused young adults ages 18–25, providing a safe place to land and the wrap-around tools they need as they move from adolescence into adulthood.

Phase One of the facility, located at 2424 San Mateo NE, the former San Mateo Inn, is set to open sometime in February and will serve 41 young adults at a time. Participants will stay for approximately 90 days and receive individualized treatment navigation, job training, life-skills coaching, financial literacy education, and case management. The center is designed to act as a critical safety net for young adults who often lack the support systems needed to successfully transition into independence.

The campus will primarily support:

• Young adults exiting foster care
• Young people transitioning from Gateway West
• Individuals living on the streets or in unstable housing, including those couch surfing

The City has contracted Youth Development Inc. (YDI) to operate the facility and deliver age-appropriate programming and services. The site was strategically chosen for its access to multiple bus routes and proximity to job centers that can support long-term stability for residents.

Significant public investment is backing the project, including $7 million in ARPA funds allocated by City Councilors; $1.5 million in federal funding secured by Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury and Senator Ben Ray Luján; and $1.1 million in State of New Mexico legislative support.

Mayor Tim Keller’s Vision Through Gateway

The Young Adult Center is the newest step in the City’s broader Gateway initiative—Mayor Keller’s comprehensive effort to build a coordinated, compassionate system that helps residents find shelter, treatment, housing, and stability.

“Our Gateway initiative is designed to meet people where they are, and young adults have unique needs as they take their first steps into adulthood,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This new facility gives them a safe, supportive environment and a real shot at success, whether that’s securing housing, getting a job, or learning the life skills they never had the chance to develop. We’re building a stronger, safer Albuquerque when we create opportunities for our young people to thrive.”

A Dedicated Space for Young People

The Youth Housing Continuum and a coalition of regional partners identified the need for a dedicated young adult facility in a 2022 comprehensive needs assessment. The Gateway Young Adult Center directly addresses that gap by offering an age-specific campus where young people can stabilize, receive services, and connect to long-term housing.

“We know that ages 18 to 25 can be some of the most vulnerable years for young people who lack stable support,” said Gilbert Ramirez, Executive Administrator of the Health, Housing & Homelessness Department. “This campus is designed to give young adults a foundation, housing, treatment navigation, life skills, job training, all in one place. It’s a transformative addition to our system and an investment in the next generation of Albuquerque.”

Project Background

Since purchasing the former San Mateo Inn in 2024, the City has worked with youth service providers, academic partners, and community stakeholders to design a campus that reflects best practices for young adult stabilization and housing navigation. The project responds directly to recommendations from the region’s Comprehensive Needs Assessment of Young People Experiencing Housing Instability and Homelessness, and follows extensive stakeholder engagement.