Gateway Center Grows: Medical Sobering Set to Open
ALBUQUERQUE – The Medical Sobering Center at Gateway is expected to welcome its first patients this year, and the Housing and Treatment Navigation Center will expand following the approval of a contract with new operators.
The Medical Sobering Center will be operated by Horizons Services, Inc., which currently operates two Sobering Centers in California.
Once opened, the Medical Sobering Center at Gateway Center will provide a safe and comfortable space to recover from severe intoxication, relieving the strain on hospitals and jails.
People will stay up to 24 hours at the Center, and could be connected to longer-term substance use resources, including Bernalillo County's CARE Campus.
The Center is one of only 60 in the nation and the only Medical Sobering Center in New Mexico. Planning for the Medical Sobering Center began after a feasibility study was conducted in 2021.
“A key component of opening a first-of-its-kind service is finding the right provider, which we’ve found in Horizons Services,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez. “They have the experience required to safely and efficiently open up this needed service, and unlock access to vital services that will support our community.”
A separate contract approval expands Housing and Treatment Navigation Services in Gateway Center to men. Community Bridges Inc., based in Mesa, Arizona, will operate the 42-bed expansion, which will provide connection to permanent housing, substance use disorder treatment, and other services. Community Bridges has an extensive history of operating similar services in Arizona.
“Four years ago, we identified an urgent need for services that uplift people out of homelessness,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Today, these services are being realized through the Gateway Network, where we’re building a continuum of care that provides several pathways to housing.”
Community Bridges was also selected to operate the First Responder Receiving Area, which provides overnight accommodations and support for people and families planning their next steps.