More Than 1,000 Connections Made at Gateway West’s Summer Community Resource Fair

On a Tuesday morning at 7440 Jim McDowell NW, twenty-four organizations sent 67 professionals and volunteers through the doors of Gateway West, and by the time the Summer Community Resource Fair wrapped up, more than 1,000 individual client interactions had taken place. Coming together at the City’s largest shelter, medical providers, housing navigators, recovery programs, workforce connections, grief support, cancer care: for residents whose access to these services is often limited by circumstance, this was a morning that opened doors.

“Gateway West is where One Albuquerque shows up in the most direct way possible – neighbors, providers, and the City, side by side, making sure people have what they need to take the next step,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Over 1,000 connections in a single morning is extraordinary. That’s a thousand chances for someone’s life to look a little different.”

“The energy in that room told the whole story before any numbers came in,” said Richard Gaczewski, Gateway West Coordinator. “Every organization showed up ready to meet people where they are, with real resources and real respect. When 100% of participating providers say they want to come back, that tells you something about what this community is capable of when we work together.”

Several partners stood out for the scale of their contributions. Sagebrush Church mobilized 19 volunteers to staff their clothing bank, serving 166 residents during the event. The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center generated 121 client interactions with just two staff members on site. City staff members connected with more than 150 residents directly.

Participating organizations spanned the full spectrum of services Gateway West residents need most, including Presbyterian Medical, UNM Hospital for Community Engagement, the VA Homeless Program, Molina Healthcare, NAMI, the NM Grief Center, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, Workforce Connection’s Housing Stability Program, Serenity Mesa, State of the Heart Recovery, New Day Youth & Family, Good Will NM, and more than a dozen additional community providers.

Gateway West, formerly known as the Westside Emergency Housing Center, is operated by Chicanos Por La Causa under a partnership with the City’s Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides shelter, meals, laundry, case management, and daily shuttle service to men, women, and couples experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque. The Summer Resource Fair was held in Gateway West’s I-Space – a dedicated community room designed as a place to connect, grow, and belong.

The success of the Summer Resource Fair has already set the stage for what’s next. Gateway West is planning a Trunk-or-Treat Resource Fair this October, where community providers will pull up and offer resources directly from their vehicles, bringing the fair model outdoors and inviting even broader community participation. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

“What happened at Gateway West this week is exactly the kind of community-building that changes outcomes,” said Gilbert Ramirez, Director of the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness. “Providers, volunteers, and City staff all showing up with purpose. That’s how we close the gap between people and the services that can help them move forward.”

Gateway West is located at 7440 Jim McDowell NW and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about Gateway West and the City’s Gateway System of Care, visit cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness or call 311.