[Neighbors] Fwd: FW: Homeless Solutions in Albuquerque

Sat Oct 24 16:11:36 MDT 2020

We thought our neighbors should have this.
Thank You
Lucille and Gary

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gary and Melodie Eyster <meyster1 at me.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 24, 2020 at 12:56 PM
Subject: FW: Homeless Solutions in Albuquerque
To: Lucille Long <lucylongcares at gmail.com>

Lucille. Do you get these?

I’ll count on you to send this type of thing to the neighbors list if you
fell you want to. G

*From:* City of Albuquerque [mailto:fcsinfo at cabq.gov]
*Sent:* Friday, October 23, 2020 3:08 PM
*To:* Gary <theboard at nobhill-nm.com>
*Subject:* Homeless Solutions in Albuquerque

Welcome to the first edition of the HomelesSolutions newsletter from the
City of Albuquerque's Department of Family and Community Services

I’m Carol Pierce, Director of the Family and Community Services Department
in the City of Albuquerque.

I have always believed in people and enjoy getting to know them, to learn
something about their lives, and to share a personal connection. For me,
helping other people is my passion, so I became a registered nurse and
later got a master's degree in Public Administration.

Early in my career, I learned a lot about serving individuals, like Ray, at
the group home, where I was the Activities Director. We often shared
personal stories and a mutual affection for eggnog. Or Marjorie, who I met
while I was a nurse. Through a terminal diagnosis and our mutual love for
our pets, her eternal optimism left a lifelong impression. It's these deep
and sincere human connections that have shaped my professional life in
profound ways. I find inspiration in other people's journeys and always
seek genuine relationships.

As the Director of Family and Community Services at the City of
Albuquerque, our Department offers many programs. It works with community
organizations to deliver various services to people from all walks of life,
including housing, behavioral health services, and assistance to people
without homes. Many resources are offered, and I always appreciate hearing
how the people and organizations we work with are served or can be better
helped. My position provides a rewarding opportunity to connect with
people, listen to their stories, and collaborate on shared solutions in our
community.

I currently have an ongoing dialogue with a street artist whose artwork is
joyful and inspiring. Learning about her lived experience as a person
without a home deepens my understanding and connection to homelessness
issues. I also appreciate the conversations with the individuals and
families living in our neighborhoods. Seeing the need for people without
homes is one part of my job, but having meaningful dialogues shape my work
both professionally and personally.

This newsletter will bring stories from people with lived experience and
useful information from the network of providers serving people without
homes in our community. Please read and share this newsletter regularly.
Your feedback and input are essential to me also. Let's keep learning,
growing, and moving our community forward together.

Thank you,
*Carol Pierce *
*Family and Community Services Director*

<https://cabq.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7bb82e1139de2f8c038c90803&id=6652fd03cf&e=feb53bfad3>

HCC Committees Propose Recommendations

On Tuesday, October 13, the Homeless Coordinating Council *(HCC)*
committees on Housing, Youth Housing, Street Outreach, Homeless Service
Systems, and Gateway Facilities forwarded their finding and recommendations
to the Homeless Coordinating Council appointed by Mayor Tim Keller earlier
this year.

More than fifty community members contributed, including elected officials,
neighborhood association members, service providers, UNM President and
staff, and City staff. Participants collaborated in regular Zoom strategic
planning sessions online to share their insights and expertise to address
community housing and homelessness issues.

Since mid-August, the HCC and its subcommittees met bi-weekly to identify
needs and gaps in critical areas around affordable housing and homelessness
in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The innovative use of technology to
meet virtually and collaboratively during COVID-19 has produced outstanding
results on our community's most pressing issues.

Thank you to the devoted and passionate participants for giving your time
and expertise in making these recommendations towards workable solutions on
affordable housing and homelessness.

The recommendations now go to the Homeless Coordinating Council to
establish priorities, costs, timelines, and implementation plans.

To learn more about the Homeless Coordinating Council or to attend the next
online meeting visit  *https://cutt.ly/JfC8Ber*
<https://cabq.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7bb82e1139de2f8c038c90803&id=d100f97851&e=feb53bfad3>.
The HCC meets every other Tuesday and public comments are accepted.

Thank you to our Homeless Coordinating Council community partners.

Responding Quickly to COVID-19 Cases at WEHC

As of October 22, 2020, the City reported 127 COVID-19 cases at the
Westside Emergency Housing Center. Every individual who has tested positive
is currently in isolation and receiving medical care for their symptoms.
The City also put forward a longer-term solution for isolating future
positive cases in a non-congregate setting.

Early on in the public health emergency, the National Alliance to End
Homelessness estimated that approximately 649 sheltered individuals
experiencing homelessness would become infected with COVID-19 in Bernalillo
County. Fewer than 130 positive cases have been reported at WEHC thanks to
quick work to establish effective protocols to care for this population
seeking shelter.

Under the guidance of Dr. Laura Chanchien Parajón of UNM Health Sciences
Center, the City is screening every individual seeking to utilize the WEHC
by taking temperatures and answering questions related to any recent
symptoms. Anyone experiencing symptoms, exposed to someone with COVID, or
traveled from a high-risk area is immediately placed in isolation or
quarantine and administered a COVID-19 test. Those who test positive
continue their isolation in a non-congregate hotel setting to receive food,
medical attention and time to recover.

The Westside Emergency Housing Center, located at 7440 Jim McDowell NW, is
open to men, women and families experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque.
While the WEHC is not currently taking new residents and transportation has
been suspended through the weekend, individuals and families in need of
assistance can call *768-HELP*, 10:00 am–6:00 pm.

*Our partners at Heading Home NM*
shared the following story.

We almost didn't recognize this former ABQ StreetConnect (ABQSC) client
when he stopped by our downtown office this week!

This client experienced homelessness for 4 years in Albuquerque and became
a high utilizer of emergency systems before getting connected with Heading
Home and our ABQSC team in October of 2018.

Our Navigators worked closely with him to help get benefits through the
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) program. Thanks to the
Community Connections Supportive Housing program through Bernalillo County
NM he is going to be housed soon. Our ABQSC team is dedicated to helping
clients get connected to resources and we love to see our past clients
doing so well!

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