New Mexico Business Weekly
Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 2:54pm MST
Volunteers who are in Albuquerque this week to begin an initiative surveying homeless people have switched their focus to keeping the homeless safe in the bitter cold of this week’s winter storm by ensuring access to emergency shelter and food.
The Albuquerque Heading Home initiative kicked off this week, with hundreds of volunteers from around the nation fanning out to survey the city’s homeless people.
But the storm system has coordinators asking volunteers to remain home Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, and facilities that serve the homeless are making emergency arrangements due to the weather.
The Metropolitan Homelessness Project, the lead agency for the Heading Home effort, is helping to coordinate city efforts. More shelters will be open to accommodate the influx of people who may seek shelter from the cold.
• The Albuquerque Opportunity Center will allow residents to remain indoors from 5 p.m. Tuesday until Thursday morning.
• The Albuquerque Rescue Mission will provide transportation from 5256 Second St. SW to the Westside shelter Tuesday and Wednesday. The shelter will remain open during the day Wednesday for those who wish to stay. The Rescue Mission will also remain open downtown at its 102 Lead St. location all day Wednesday.
• Joy Junction will extend its hours to shelter and feed people beginning Tuesday and continuing until weather conditions improve.
• Noon Day Ministries at 101 Broadway NW will remain open 24 hours until weather permits, and will provide food.
Public support is needed to support the emergency plan to provide food and shelter, and can be made through contributions to the Metropolitan Homelessness Project, designating Albuquerque Heading Home as the recipient.