Opioid Settlement Funding Bolsters Vital Gateway Services

ALBUQUERQUE - Today, Mayor Tim Keller signed legislation that allocates $4.5 million from opioid settlement funding for key services through the Gateway Center. This is a part of a larger $20 million package to bolster access to treatment, services, and housing.

“Today we’re putting key opioid settlement funding dollars to work, unlocking treatment and resources for our community through the Gateway,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Investing in this vital programming and support is a step in the right direction.”

"This appropriation, in addition to the allocations approved last month, sets up a wide-ranging system of prevention and treatment options for the citizens of Albuquerque via city services, nonprofits, local treatment providers, and APS.," stated District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. "This is what the citizens of Albuquerque asked for during the public input process, and I’m proud that my cosponsors and I were able to deliver."

“The Council’s approval gives the City’s Gateway Center the ability to immediately assess substance use disorders and provide the necessary treatment for those in need,” said District 6 City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers. “The funding for recovery housing is indispensable in successful addiction recovery.”

“We are dedicated to ensuring that these opioid settlement funds are put to use in a way that directly benefits our community,” City Councilor Renée Grout, District 9 stated. “The evidence-based strategies developed in the plan will deliver both immediate relief and long-term solutions. The resolution requires accountability on where the funds are utilized.”

Funding will go toward operating key Gateway Network Services:

• $1.4 million for the First Responder Receiving Area, a space where First Responders, including Albuquerque Community Safety can transport people to gain access to services and plan their next steps.
• $950,000 for Gateway Recovery, a community of 46 Pallet Shelters where people with substance use disorder and our unsheltered community can get addiction treatment and housing.
• $2.25 million will go toward the Medical Sobering Center, which will provide a safe and comfortable space to recover from severe intoxication, relieving the strain on hospitals and jails.

To date, a cumulative $5.95 million in Opioid Settlement Funding has been allocated to Gateway Recovery for both construction and operations. This month, we welcomed our first Gateway Recovery residents.

“Gateway Recovery is an example of opioid dollars in action,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez. “Today, people are receiving life-saving treatment and support, setting them on a pathway to long-term recovery. That wouldn’t be possible without these precious dollars.”