Nob Hill Neighborhood Association Supports the Unhoused
Baratunde Thurston’s podcast, How To Citizen, reminds us that citizenship is an action, not just a status. Beyond voting, we must work, volunteer, and contribute to our community and democracy. Each day, we should ask ourselves, "What can I do to make our lives better? What is my role as a citizen?"
On May 1st, neighbors from the Nob Hill Neighborhood Association (NHNA) gathered to explore how we could actively “citizen.” We met with community organizations supporting the unhoused, including representatives from Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), UNM Echo, the City, and City Councilor Nicole Rogers.
Our goal was to find hands-on work to alleviate the suffering and despair we witness on our neighborhood streets. Here’s what we decided:
Our Immediate Action
We were encouraged to contact the City Council to support funding for ACS. We sent emails and letters to City Councilors, and attended meetings, both in person and remotely, to voice our support. Notably, Nob Hill resident Pat Hirschl, 91 years young, spoke to the City Council in support of ACS funding on May 20th.
The City Council voted to support ACS, with members acknowledging the numerous emails and phone calls they received in support. Thank you, NHNA!
Our Longer Term Action
The ACS Division Manager Walter Adams and his team suggested that hygiene kits with basic personal supplies are crucial for the unhoused, and they currently lack enough of them. Rev. Dr. Dawn Rosignol, pastor of Monte Vista Christian Church, has experience assembling hygiene kits through their youth program. Rev. Dawn and Meta Hirschl are co-leading this effort.
We decided to host events to assemble hygiene kits for ACS to distribute, and for neighbors to distribute directly. The kits include items such as sunscreen, chapstick/lip gloss with sunscreen, toiletries, tampons/pads, socks, tuna fish pouches, fruit cups, and a note of encouragement.
Additionally, we were invited to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the new ACS building, which all residents of Albuquerque were invited to attend.
In front of the new ACS building: ACS staff Jenny Carian, and neighbors Pat Hirschl and Bob Davis.
Here is more about Jenny:
Jenny grew up in Zuni Pueblo and holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. She worked for five years as a Certified Nursing Assistant before spending over 10 years in healthcare administration, primarily at Presbyterian Hospital. Jenny comes to ACS from Ambercare Hospice where she was the We Honor Veterans Coordinator.
Here is more about ACS:
ACS Mission: To provide Albuquerque with a holistic,empathetic, and informed response to behavioral and mental health 911 calls.
Response are personalized ot that of the individual, family, and community so that ACS can bring “The Right Response at the Right Time”
ACS Vision: Any person can call for help and get a purposeful, humane and appropriate response.”
ACS is a national leader in alternative public safety responses, serving our community’s most vulnerable.
In just over two and a half years, ACS has handled over 67,000 service calls, with 80% diverted from police, showcasing effective community-based safety interventions.
Other cities look to ACS as a model for developing similar programs.
Another longer term goal the group discussed was to promote the building of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in our community for those who are interested in this approach.
More to come, keep on the lookout for ways to volunteer.
Meta.