Dorothee Otero (right) with Metropolitan Homelessness Project's Executive Director, Dennis Plummer.
Albuquerque Heading Home aims to identify areas where smart changes can be made to do the right thing. The initiative highlights areas of challenge in our system and it facilitates better use of resources so that we can have greater positive outcomes.
One area of challenge encountered has been the shear magnitude of the supportive service and housing system. Thus far, we have operated solely with the part-time hours and full-time good graces of our many partners. However, even with professional staff from the social services sector of our community involved, navigating the maze of housing and service requirements is daunting and time-consuming.
We need an accelerated process.
Albuquerque Heading Home is doing two things to achieve that goal.
- Hired Dorothee Otero to spearhead housing and connection to case management for our top 75 vulnerable citizens who also experience chronic homelessness. With 16 years of experience as Executive Director of Barrett Foundation, Dorothee Otero is a welcome addition to the Albuquerque Heading Home team! It is her focus to connect those in need with agencies’ resources.
- Look at ways to streamline how housing and supportive services may be accessed in our community. If those of us in the field are finding it challenging to help house someone, imagine what it must be like to do so from the street-while medically ill and while, quite possibly, also afflicted with a mental illness.
Albuquerque Heading Home continues to house our most vulnerable, while also attempting to affect systemic changes that better use taxpayers’ dollars. We continue to strive to be “The Smart Way To Do The Right Thing.”