Video: Two Brothers Find Housing Stability through Voucher Program
ALBUQUERQUE— Brothers Ricky and Ronnie Besse spent 10 years unsheltered, more than a year of which was spent living in the Bosque, but that all changed two years ago when the brothers received a notice to vacate and left their camp behind. Their next stop was the Good Shepherd Center, where the brothers applied for a City-funded Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher. They were accepted into the program and now live in an apartment in southeast Albuquerque.
“It saved our lives. When you don’t have to worry about a place to live, a place to sleep at nighttime, there’s a bunch of stress taken off of you right away, so that was the best part about it,” said Ricky Besse.
“It has proven to be a successful program. We have seen individuals who have experienced homelessness for years due to limited disability income get housed,” said Good Shepherd Program Manager Debbie Lozano. “Once housed, their quality of life improved, as did their mental and physical health. It is a program that continues to change lives. The program adds value and purpose to these clients’ lives by allowing them to live in a safe space, a place to call home. They no longer live in fear of surviving on the streets.”
Ricky and Ronnie received their City-funded voucher through Good Shepherd. Good Shepherd currently serves 18 households with Permanent Supportive Housing Vouchers, including Ronnie and Ricky. The City distributes funding to providers like Good Shepherd, which runs its own voucher programs. Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher programs in Albuquerque serve 1,322 clients from 730 households.
“Housing vouchers are a vital tool used to help people and families out of homelessness,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “As affordable housing options continue to be limited, we know the funding we provide for housing vouchers is going toward changing countless lives for the better. While there is still more work to be done, we recognize these programs to be an effective option providing immediate support.”
“Building a network of touchpoints with our partners across the City allows us to create more options for those experiencing homelessness to get the help they need to get on the pathway to housing stability,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director, Gilbert Ramirez. “We know that homelessness is a complex issue, and we need to provide a diverse array of choices for folks, including through our Gateway Network.”
Next week, the City is launching a new Gateway Center service, the Medical Respite Center. The center will provide an appropriate place for individuals to recover from illness or injury and offer a pathway to housing.
Stay tuned for more details and more stories over the coming months and throughout the year showcasing how Housing Vouchers, the Gateway Network, and our Health and Social Services Centers are uplifting people in our community onto a pathway to success and housing.