$1M eyed for housing vouchers

City-county commission recommends help for residents seeking sobriety

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Commission voted last week to make a recommendation to appropriate $1 million in one-time funding for transitional housing vouchers.

Bernalillo County commissioners will act during a future meeting on the recommended appropriation to purchase and provide housing vouchers to adult county residents who have completed a treatment program of 28 days or longer at the Metropolitan Detention Center or in the community and wish to stay alcohol- and drug-free in sober living housing.

County residents who have a substance-use disorder or serious mental illness — and are receiving Behavior Health Initiative-funded services or support through a non-BHI-funded provider with short-term housing a part of their treatment plan — also would be eligible for the transitional housing program.

“Many people go through substance abuse treatment, either inpatient or sometimes they’re transient and they get detox, but there’s not a ‘what’s next?’” said Katrina Hotrum, the county’s behavioral health director.

“We know that there are sober living beds available, but because they’re private pay, many of the individuals who are coming out don’t have a job to pay for that. This allows us a two-month stint for them to get housing and get them acclimated back in for treatment so they can get the services they need.”

The housing vouchers would be used over the next two years or until the supply is exhausted.

The commission consists of: Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilors Issac Benton, Don Harris, Klarissa Peña and Ken Sanchez; and Bernalillo County Commissioners Debbie O’Malley, Steven Michael Quezada, James Smith and Maggie Hart Stebbins.