We had great collaboration with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) last February as they assisted us in safety while we surveyed Albuquerque’s most vulnerable citizens. Now, we are seeking to continue that collaboration by helping them keep those same persons safe from fire and health hazards.
The following message is from Jodi Jepson. Jodi is a member of the Crisis Outreach and Support (COAST), which assists APD. Please read her message and contact Jodi if you can help this Friday.
I apologize for the short notice, but I want to inform and invite you all to participate this Friday in a resource fair. The City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department will be doing their annual Spring clean, focused on addressing fire, biohazard and safety hazards. This includes areas where there are homeless camps.
To take advantage of this opportunity—and to make this as positive a project as possible—the COAST unit will assist and connect individuals to appropriate resources. We are all committed to helping persons experiencing homelessness. This event allows us to make contact with people we might not otherwise be able to reach. Our ultimate goal is to assist in creating stable and long-term solutions. While we might not be able to obtain this goal directly through this event, it will nonetheless provide us another opportunity to assist people in their own safety and to build rapport and plans for the future.
Albuquerque Heading Home, Metro Court, Joy Junction and others are partnering with APD to create a comprehensive collaborative endeavor. We hope that you will join us in this opportunity. We recognize that resources are limited and so every bit of community support and involvement counts and will impact positive change.
The APD/COAST unit and officers will attempt this Thursday, April 14, at 5 AM, to make contact with any persons who reside in unhealthy campsites, or in areas in severe danger of fire. We will inform them of the clean up and resources that will be available to them the following day.
On Friday, April 15, at 7:30 AM, at 400 Wyoming NE (Army and Navy Reserve Center), a briefing will be held for volunteers and law enforcement. Those involved can either participate in visiting campsites and helping with cleanup, or can stay at the resource fair site to provide outreach services. This resource fair will be held from 8 AM - 12 noon at 400 Wyoming NE.
If you are able to participate or have any questions please contact myself, Jodie Jepson, via email at [email protected] by Thursday, April 14th at 1300 hrs.
Thank you so much for all the profound work you do every day.