When an intoxicated homeless person needs to get sober, they often end up in one of Albuquerque’s emergency rooms. But officials say it’s an untenable situation that places a further strain on already stressed health care workers and maxed out ERs.

The city hopes to alleviate some of the load through a new medical sobering center at its Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub. The sobering center would provide supervised medical care for intoxicated individuals until they are sober. They’d then be connected with long-term recovery services, case management and recovery housing.

The 11,000-square-foot center, which is in the initial phase of construction, is designed for 50 client beds for stays of up to 23 hours, although officials say national data shows visits usually last from six to eight hours. The hope is for construction to be completed by the end of the year. It would be one of about 40 such centers in the country.

“Where do folks go to heal? And actually heal well so that they’re not entering a very costly system over and over and over again?” Albuquerque’s Health, Housing & Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramírez, told City Desk ABQ earlier this year. “If they go back to the street, they don’t heal, they get infected or go back to the [emergency room], which is very costly. They discharge, and we just keep repeating that cycle.” 

Ramírez said breaking the cycle also means opening up emergency room beds for other high priority situations. 

In addition to the 50 beds, the center would feature a nursing station, private rooms, shower facilities and recliners. Clients would have access to laundry facilities and a break room.

Ramírez said referrals to the center will be primarily driven by first responders, whether  Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Albuquerque Ambulance Service, or Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue.

‘Vitally needed’

Ramírez said the idea for the center came after the city commissioned a feasibility study on behalf of the metro area’s first responders.

“To look at the entire landscape of how many calls were being sent to the ER, and really look at how we could reduce that impact and serve them in a better way,” Ramírez said at a Bernalillo County addiction treatment advisory board meeting March 18. 

The study showed the prevalence of intoxicated homeless people sobering in ER lobbies.

“We’re seeing kind of a growth throughout the country that these are vitally needed services,” he said. 

Federal help

On April 4, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller are scheduled to speak about the center at a news conference at the Gateway Center after touring the facility.

“It’s very exciting to have Senator Lujan and Secretary Becerra here in person to talk about it and see the updates,” HHH spokesperson Katie Simon said Monday.

Simon said $4.2 million in previously announced federal funding for the center are being administered through HHS — $2.2 million for construction and $2 million in operational expenses. In addition to funding from Bernalillo County and the city, the center is about a $5.3 million project, she said.

“We’re currently seeking an operator and anticipate serving at least 17,000 people per year,” Simon said.

Ongoing effort

The Gateway Center is the city’s flagship project to address homelessness, and it’s a big one in price, space and scope. At 570,000 square feet, it is the second largest city-run facility outside of the Albuquerque International Sunport.

The more than $70 million project offers 50 overnight beds that primarily serve women and another 35 seasonal beds primarily for men. There are 11 tenants on site that offer wrap-around services to clients.

The Gateway Center has five major projects under some phase of construction: the 50-bed housing navigation center that the city wants to quickly increase to 142; an engagement center that features housing providers and other vendors; a first responder receiving area with private assessment rooms; a 50-bed medical respite facility for those who are discharged from hospitals but need longer term care; and the forthcoming medical sobering center. 

The Gateway Center is located at 5400 Gibson Blvd. SE. More information is available here.