Veterans Day Highlight: Veteran’s Integration Centers Connects Unsheltered Veterans to Housing
ALBUQUERQUE –One way the City is honoring those who served our country is by supporting the New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers (NMVIC) Transitional Living Facility. The “VIC”, is a space for veterans, including those who are unsheltered or at risk of becoming unsheltered. The VIC prioritized rapid rehousing, therapy, and life skills training in addition to emergency and transitional housing.
In 2023, the City of Albuquerque provided more than $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to purchase the land for the VIC. The 20,000-square-foot facility was constructed and opened in August of this year. Bernalillo County, the Veterans Administration, our Congressional delegation, and the State Legislature also provided funding.
The new facility boasts 42 units for veterans, 12 of which are designed to combine with neighboring units, making it perfect for families. Since opening, the Transitional Living Facility provided Transitional Housing services to 38 individuals.
BROLL AND INTERVIEWS ABOUT THE FACILITY
“Across the nation and across our community, there are far too many veterans who are either unhoused or in danger of becoming so,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “The VIC is directly helping those who served our country and their families by providing resources and a safe space to help them rebuild their lives and get on a path to stable housing.”
Key features of the VIC include three cooking stations, a dining area for the entire community, laundry rooms, and a day room for relaxation and social interaction, and office space for staff. A fully equipped computer lab is in the process of being installed.
Construction is beginning soon on phase 2 of the facility, which includes space for casework and therapy sessions, a gym, a food pantry, a library, and an art room. Construction is also beginning soon on the outdoor recreation area, which includes a new pickleball court, a half-basketball court, and a cornhole area. A community garden will also be opened next spring.
“Homelessness affects people from all walks of life, including veterans,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez. “This new facility is filling a critical gap by taking the next step to not only provide housing but also the necessary services that address the root cause of homelessness, and we are a proud partner.”
“We are extremely excited to bring this new facility to the community to help Veterans and their family members who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This Campus is a great example of government working together with businesses and individuals to bring a valuable resource to the Veteran community,” said Veterans Integration Center Chief Executive Officer Brock Wolff, JD. “On any given night in America, over 33,000 Veterans are homeless on the streets of America. In New Mexico, nearly 1 in 10 homeless people are Veterans. We named our Capital Campaign our Dignity Campaign, because we know when we provide a state-of-the-art facility to Veterans in need, that this will be a statement to them that they are truly valued. When people are shown they are valued, they achieve better clinical outcomes and are much less likely to return to homelessness. This new Campus will be a game changer for this community as it works to help address a high-end need.”
To learn more about the New Mexico Veterans Integration Center (NMVIC) Transitional Living Facility, visit nmvic.org.