Albuquerque City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday, Sept. 15, to approve Executive Communication 481, giving Gateway West an extra $3.55 million, doubling Chicanos Por La Causa’s (CPLC) annual contract to $7.1 million and extending operations through June 2026, even as councilors and residents questioned whether the city’s $121 million Gateway program is producing results. Councilor Dan Champine said he was frustrated that operational improvements took years to implement.
The funding keeps the city’s largest low-barrier shelter open, serving more than 600 people nightly in its 660 beds. Albuquerque’s homeless population reached 2,740 in 2024, according to Albuquerque’s 2024 point-in-time count by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. Councilors and residents have criticized the Gateway system for unclear outcomes and limited oversight, saying taxpayers deserve better accountability.
Residents Voice Concerns…