Our Outreach team is critical, delivering food, clothing, and services to the streets.
Every day, those experiencing homelessness suffer from the elements, malnutrition, and violence. The HopeWorks Outreach team provides a friendly and welcoming presence on the streets, providing basic needs such as water, hygiene, snacks, clothing items, and more, all while building a relationship of trust and respect. Outreach works to identify their needs, develop a rapport, and link them to services. These street outreaches are often conducted in partnership with other service providers, including APD, MCOs, and others. Outreach also helps connect those experiencing homelessness to housing resources that may be available in the community.
Telephone: (505) 242-4399 ext. 227
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8am-9am
*Tuesday: 1pm-3pm
Meet Jack and Anna – Building on Momentum
Jack and Anna were living under a bridge when the HopeWorks Outreach team first encountered them. They’d left Colorado, hoping to find a better opportunity in Albuquerque. Jack had suffered through multiple back surgeries and was addicted to painkillers. Their children were staying with relatives, but they wanted their children back.
Outreach gave them a motel stay, and they lost touch for a week. When they came in for an extension, Outreach told them no, and that they needed to work toward ending homelessness. Motivated by the desire to be housed, they spent the afternoon with staff creating a game plan. Every morning, they would touch base on their progress. The first step was getting IDs, social security cards, and other documentation. After that, they began applying for benefits and searching for housing.
This set off a chain reaction of positivity. Shortly after, Anna enrolled in therapy at HopeWorks. She had endured past trauma and wanted to release that before reuniting with her children. Jack’s benefits started coming in, and Anna was progressing in her therapy. Then, a housing voucher became available, and the couple was approved for an apartment.
Though Anna was nervous, the Outreach team encouraged her to begin the discussion of moving her children in with them. Anna didn’t want to mess up, but she was reassured that she had the HopeWorks agency as a support system should she feel overwhelmed or scared.
Anna and Jack settled into their apartment nicely. Anna began cooking; Jack offered handyman services around the complex. A few months later, Anna came by to let Outreach know she had a surprise for them. Lo and behold, Anna had come to visit with her three children in tow! They’d reunited as a family for about a month. As they began to leave, Jack thanked Outreach for not extending their motel stay, stating that it was the “kick in the behind” they needed to move forward.