ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – As metro temperatures could dip into freezing range for a third night in a row, the city said its opening more overnight beds at the newer gateway center and they’re doing it earlier in the season.

For the last year, the gateway center has mostly been a transitional housing facility for about 50 women. However, these new beds opening soon are aimed at housing men.

“We’re human. We aren’t really made to sleep out in the elements without the proper protection and if we don’t help people, they will die,” said Maria Wolfe, Homeless Innovations Officer for the Health, Housing, and Homelessness program.

With winter-like weather creeping in, Albuquerque’s gateway center is making room for men. Starting on Wednesday, 35 overnight winter beds for men will be available each night bringing the facility’s total to 85 spaces.

However, that new number of beds is a different from what the city suggested in August where they mentioned they would have up to 100 beds. City leaders are now clarifying how they’re using their current overnight capacity.

“It will come on board and hold 100, but just not right now… the winter shelter will be for 35 men. The other shelter, the Housing Navigation Center that we have at Gateway with the 90-day model and the wrap around services, it houses 50 women at a time,” said Wolfe.

Staying at the Gateway Center, also requires prior authorization. The city said people can stay at the winter shelter at the center when they’ve been referred by a service provider, by ACS, or by APD.

Along with beds, the city is aiming for gateway residents to participate in a 90-day program to get into permanent housing.

“We have transportation set up. They will have meals served there and they’ll have access to a lot of the service providers here in town,” said Wolfe.

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The Winter Shelter is open from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily.

Transportation will be provided to and from the Gateway Center from multiple locations in town, with drop-off locations at or near breakfast meal sites:

Evening pick-up:

  • 5 p.m. Gods Warehouse pick-up
  • 5:10 p.m. BernCo CARE Campus pick-up
  • 5:20 p.m. First Nations pick-up 
  • 7:15 p.m. Gods Warehouse pick-up
  • 7:25 p.m. BernCo CARE Campus pick-up
  • 7:35 p.m. First Nations pick-up

Morning drop-off:

  • 7:40 a.m. First Nations drop-off
  • 7:50 a.m. Gods Warehouse drop-off
  • 8:10 a.m. Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless drop-off
  • 8:20 a.m. The Rock @ Noon Day drop-off

Since guests moved into the newly constructed space in August, the Gateway Center’s Housing Navigation program has successfully helped 30 people attain permanent housing, and nine more people are about to move into apartments.