In mid August, the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness released the 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) Report with graphs and charts reflecting the numbers of unhoused people in Albuquerque and in the balance of the State. The link to review the entire 61 page 2026 PIT report is here:
https://www.nmceh.org/pitreports
This article is an in depth review of the PIT statistics, the City of Albuquerque’s efforts at shelter and providing services to the unhoused and a discussion Albuquerque’s financial commitment to the unhoused. The article further address the need for civil mental commitments to get the unhoused off the streets as a viable solution.
INTRODUCTION
“The Point-In-Time (PIT) Count is the process of identifying and counting individuals and families experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness within a community on a single night in January, as outlined and defined by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD)
…
The PIT Count consists of an unsheltered count and a sheltered count. These counts help to measure a community’s need for services. The unsheltered count tracks individuals and families whose primary nighttime residence is a location not meant for human habitation. Conversely, the sheltered count records those residing in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs.
Complementing the PIT Count, the Housing Inventory Count (HIC) measures local capacity to meet these service demands. The HIC tallies all dedicated beds and units available within Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Re-Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing programs designed to assist households experiencing homelessness upon entry.”
The 2026 PIT Count reflects another increase in the reported number of people experiencing homelessness in New Mexico. For the first time in the history of these counts, Albuquerque recorded over 3,000 individuals, while the Balance of State count topped 2,000. There are many data points suggesting homelessness in New Mexico continues to increase and the 2026 PIT is another indicator of that trend.”
https://www.nmceh.org/pitreports
SUMMARY OF 2026 PIT STATISTICS
The following statistics were reported in the 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) Report:
- The annual Point In Time Count for unhoused people in Albuquerque on January 26th, 2026 was 3,122. (In 2025, it was 2,960.)
- The annual Point In Time Count for unhoused people in the Balance of the State of New Mexico on January 26th, 2026 was 2,173. (In 2025, it was 1,723.)
- The number of students identified as experiencing homeless by the New Mexico Department of Public education during the 2025 – 2026 school year was 9,954.
- The number of individuals identified through medical service records and diagnosis criteria was 9,168.
- The distinct number of individuals who engaged with any part of part of New Mexico’s homeless response system in the year 2025 was 31,430.
2026 CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE PIT COUNT BY HOUSING TYPE
The 2026 PIT Count found 3,112 total people within 2,628 total households experienced homelessness in Albuquerque on January 26, 2026. Following is the breakdown:
Persons in Households with at least one Adult and one Child
- Emergency Shelters: 328
- Transitional Housing: 112
- Unsheltered: 4
- Total: 444
Persons in Households with only Children
- Emergency Shelters: 12
- Transitional Housing: 7
- Unsheltered: 0
- Total: 19
Persons in Households without children
- Emergency Shelters: 1,033
- Transitional Housing: 180
- Unsheltered: 1,436
- Total: 2,649
Total PIT Person Count
- Emergency Shelters: 1,373
- Transitional Housing: 299
- Unsheltered: 1,440
- Total: 3,112
COMPARING 2025 PIT REPORT FOR ALBUQUERQUE
In 2025, a total of 2,960 total homeless people were reported in Albuquerque, broken down is as follows:
- 1,367 were reported as unsheltered people.
- 1,327 were reported in emergency shelters which is up from 658 in 2011.
- 266 in transitional housing with women more prevalent than men in this type of housing.
- 8% of people reported experiencing homelessness for first time
- 2,566 total are reported as homeless groups/families in Albuquerque.
2026 BALANCE OF THE STATE PIT COUNT BY HOUSING TYPE
The 2026 PIT Count found a total of 2,173 people within 1,239 households experienced homelessness in the Balance of State on January 26th, 2026.
Persons in Households with at least one Adult and one Child:
- Emergency Shelters: 566
- Transitional Housing: 139
- Unsheltered: 27
- Total: 732
Persons in Households with only Children:
- Emergency Shelters: 29
- Transitional Housing: 6
- Unsheltered: 0
- Total: 35
Persons in Households without children:
- Emergency Shelters: 598
- Transitional Housing: 85
- Unsheltered: 723
- Total: 1,406
TOTAL PIT PERSONS COUNTED
- Emergency Shelters: 1,193
- Transitional Housing: 230
- Unsheltered: 750
- Total: 2,173
COMPARING 2025 PIT REPORT FOR THE BALANCE OF THE STATE:
In 2025, a total of 1,723 homeless people throughout the rest of New Mexico were counted and broke down as follows:
- 779 unsheltered people
- 774 in emergency shelters
- 170 in transitional housing
- 39% of people reported experiencing homelessness for first time
DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
The following Demographic breakdown was provided in the 2026 PIT Survey. It has been edited for brevity and clarity.
GENDER
“In the Albuquerque and in the Balance Of the State statistics, those identifying as male experienced unsheltered homelessness at higher rate than those identifying as female.”
RACE AND GENDER
“Across both the Albuquerque and Balance of State unsheltered counts, individuals identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, and Hispanic/Latina experienced homelessness at disproportionately higher rates relative to their census baselines. Those identifying as White and Asian or Asian American experienced homelessness at lower rates than expected.
By gender, in Albuquerque, American Indian or Alaska Native women and Black men had disproportionately higher counts of unsheltered homelessness. In the Balance of State, the count of white women is higher than expected, while the count of white men is lower than expected. The 2025 PIT Count data showed the opposite pattern for both white women and men for the BoS.”
AGE
“Within the unsheltered population, 64.2% of individuals in the Albuquerque CoC are under the age of 45, compared to 54.4% in the Balance of State. This demographic variance indicates a higher concentration of unhoused young adults within the Albuquerque urban core than in the other parts of the state.”
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
“Over 70% of women in both Albuquerque (77.5%) and BoS (70.8%) reported a past domestic violence experience, compared to 40.4% of ABQ men and 34.8% of BoS men. In Albuquerque, 38% of women and 11% of men, along with 33.6% of women and 10.8% of men in the Balance of State, indicated that domestic violence was the direct cause of their unsheltered status. Both results are statistically significant (p ≤ .001), demonstrating that domestic violence and its subsequent impact on housing instability are deeply gendered phenomena.”
MILITARY SERVICE
“Within the unsheltered counts, 8% of respondents in Albuquerque and 6.6% in the Balance of State (BoS) had served in the U.S. Military. By race, Black and white unsheltered veterans were overrepresented in Albuquerque and the Balance of State. Hispanic/ Latina/e/o respondents were underrepresented for both ABQ and BoS, while American Indian or Alaska Native veterans were underrepresented for Albuquerque.”
ONLY TIME EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
“Within the Unsheltered count, 42.4% of respondents in Albuquerque and 39.4% in Balance of State reported experiencing homelessness for the first time. First-time episodes of homelessness are concentrated among the 25–34 age demographic in Albuquerque and the 35–44 age demographic in the Balance of State. By gender, instances of new homelessness hovered between 38-43% for both women and men in both Albuquerque and the Balance of State.”
LOCATION/WHERE FROM
“Within the Albuquerque CoC unsheltered count, 50.6% of respondents reported being from Albuquerque. However, among those who identified as nonnative, the largest percentage had resided in the city for over 15 years. Statewide residency data indicates that 68.3% of respondents in the Albuquerque CoC and 55.8% in the Balance of State (BoS) CoC were originally from New Mexico. Furthermore, among individuals who migrated from outside New Mexico, 69.4% in the Albuquerque CoC and 65.7% in the BoS CoC were stably housed upon their arrival, meaning they became unhoused after relocating to the state.”
KELLER’S GATEWAY SYSTEM OF SHELTERS
The Gateway Shelter Network consists of 5 shelters of support for people struggling with homelessness and drug and substance addiction consists of the following:
- Gateway Center– (Located on Gibson.) Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite. Old Lovelace Hospital city purchased for $15 million costing $95 million to remodel into shelter with city officials saying upwards of 1,000 unhoused per month are being provided assistance.
- Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. (City officials say the annual impact is services to 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019)
- Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. (City officials say the annual impact is 987 individuals being served, Open Since 2020.)
- Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. City officials say the annua projected impact is 50 – 100 being served. Opening Early 2025
- Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. City officials say the projected impact is 120 Individuals being served. Opened March, 2026.
ALBUQUERQUES FINANCIAL COMITMENT TO UNHOUSED
Editor’s Disclaimer: Jaemes Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association and past contributor of guest columns published on www.PeteDinelli.com. Mr. Shanley assisted with the identification of City of Albuquerque budget funding and capital outlay funding for shelters and contract services for the unhoused as outline in this article.
It has been determined from review of City Council approved city budgets and capital outlay spending by the city, the city has spent a minimum of $127 million dollars for construction of the 5 Gateway shelters. The Gateway System Capital Outlay spending for Gateway Shelter system is as follows:
Gateway West Shelter:
- $7.6 million for cumulative refurbishing
- $2.0 million in Fiscal Year ’26 for remodeling
Gateway Gibson Center:
- $15 Million building purchase (Lovelace Hosp)
- $71 Million remediation and remodeling
Gateway Recovery:
- $5 Million to acquire and install 48 pallet homes
- $1.7 incremental facility development
Gateway Young Adult:
- $17 Million building acquisition of former motel
- $ 5 Million for remodeling into 70 unit facility
- $3 Million US Senate earmark
TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR 5 GATEWAY SHELTERS: $127.3 Million
HEALTH, HOUSING AND HOMELESS DEPARTMENT BUDGETED CONTRACTS FOR UNHOSED INITIATIVES
It is the City of Albuquerque Department of Health, Housing and Homeless (HHH) that is responsible for operating all 5 Gateway Shelters and responsible to provide services to the unhoused. The HHH budgets are where line-item funding for services to the unhoused are provided for in the following contracts:
- Affordable Housing contracts
- Emergency Shelter contracts
- Health and Human Services contracts
- Homeless Support Services contracts
- Gateway Shelter operating contracts
- Mental Health contracts
- Substance Abuse contracts
The approved FY/23 General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homeless Department (HHH) was $62.28 Million and included the following line item funding in the millions of dollars:
- Total Affordable Housing contracts: $42.60 million
- Total Emergency Shelter contracts: $6.03 million
- Total Health and Human Services contracts: $2.63 million
- Total Homeless Support Services contracts: $4.34 million
- Total Gateway Shelter Operating contracts: -0-
- Total Mental Health contracts: $3.87 million
- Total Substance Abuse contracts: $2.82 million
TOTAL F/Y 2023 HHH CONTRACTS $62.28 Million
https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy23-approved-budget-final-sept-13.pdf/view
The approved FY/24 General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homeless Department (HHH) was $63.10 Million and included the following line item funding in the millions of dollars:
- Total Affordable Housing contracts: $38.2 million
- Total Emergency Shelter contracts: $5.58 million
- Total Health and Human Services contracts: $2.33 million
- Total Homeless Support Services contracts: $5.16 million
- Total Gateway Shelter operating contracts: $5.03 million
- Total Mental Health contracts: $3.65 million
- Total Substance Abuse contracts: $2.53 million
TOTAL F/Y 2024 HHH CONTRACTS $63.10 Million
https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy24-web-version.pdf/view
The approved FY/25 General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homeless Department (HHH) was $61.55 Million and included the following line item funding in the millions of dollars:
- Total Affordable Housing contracts: $39.79 million
- Total Emergency Shelter contracts: $5.24 million
- Total Health and Human Services contracts: $2.02 million
- Total Homeless Support Services contracts: $4.80 million
- Total Gateway Shelter operating contracts: $4.03 million
- Total Mental Health contracts: $3.13 million
- Total Substance Abuse contracts: $2.53 million
TOTAL F/Y 2025 HHH CONTRACTS $61.55
The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homeless Department (HHH) lists 116 separate contracts for services benefiting directly or indirectly to the unhoused totaling $53,901,355. The 116 separate contracts totaling $53,901,355 include:
- 32 for Affordable Housing Contracts totaling $30,391,436
- 12 for Emergency Shelter contracts totaling $6,347,819
- 16 for Health and Human Services Contracts totaling $1,962,486
- 28 for Homeless Support Services contracts totaling $5,746,188
- 11 for Mental Health Contracts totaling $2,995,400
- 12 for Substance Abuse contracts totaling $2,573,526
- 5 for Gateway Shelter operating contracts totaling $3,884,500
TOTAL F/Y 2025 HHH CONTRACTS $53,901,355
TOTAL SERVICE CONTRACTS: 116
The link to review the approved FY/26 budget for the HHH department, page 209, is here:
Click to access fy26-approved-final.pdf
Mayor Tim Keller’s approved FY/27 General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homeless Department (HHH) lists 122 separate contracts for services directly or indirectly to the unhoused totaling $85,283,474. The 122 separate contracts totaling $85,283,47 include:
- 34 for Affordable Housing Contracts totaling $35,534,228
- 13 for Emergency Shelter contracts totaling $10,230,537
- 14 for Health and Human Services Contracts totaling $2,418,638
- 23 for Homeless Support Services contracts totaling $6,091,714
- 11 for Mental Health Contracts totaling $3,925,400
- 12 for Substance Abuse contracts totaling $5,530,478
- 15 for Gateway Shelter operating contracts totaling $21,552,479
TOTAL F/Y 2026 HHH CONTRACTS $85,283,471
TOTAL SERVICE CONTRACTS: 122
The link to review the FY/27 budget for the HHH department, page 124, is here:
https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf
ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION
The Albuquerque Community Safety Divsion (ACS) must be considered a big part of the City’s financial commtment to deal with the unhoused and remove them from city streets. Five years ago, Mayor Keller created the ACS and staffed it with social workers and mental health care professionals to do outreach to the homeless and to reduce by the thousands calls for service to APD. The problem is that the homeless still proliferate city streets despite ACS efforts.
The Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) dispatches first responders to 911 calls with or without other first responders from the police and fire departments. Albuquerque Community Safety responders may have backgrounds as social workers, peer-to-peer support, clinicians, counselors, or similar fields. It is a first-of-its-kind cabinet-level department responding to calls on inebriation, homelessness, addiction, and mental health. It will work alongside APD and AFR as a third option for 911 dispatch. The approved FY/27 General Fund budget for ACS is $19.6 million, representing an increase of $1.7 million, or 9.5%, from the FY/26 original budget. The F/Y 27 approved budget for ACS contains funding for 156 full time employees. (Page 165 of F/Y 27 budget)
The link to download and review the 2027 approved city budget is here:
https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-approved-numbered-final-w-hyperlinks-7-31-2026.pdf/view
Links to other quoted or relied upon news soureces sources are here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_42aba680-62c4-4228-95a2-da72df1a34e1.html
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Since day one of becoming Mayor in 2017, dealing with the unhoused on the streets of Albuquerque and getting the homeless off the streets and getting them services has been a major priority of Mayor Tim Keller. During Keller’s tenure as Mayor, the number of homeless has more than doubled as Keller’s efforts to remove the unhoused permanently off the streets has failed and as the homeless proliferate the city streets. The most recent “Point In Time” Survey of the unhoused released mid- August reports the city has 3,122 people unhoused, up from 2,960 reported in 2025.
According to review of approved city budgets, the city of Albuquerque has spent a staggering $452 million dollars to build the 5 Gateway Shelters and to provide services to the unhoused calculated as follows:
Total capital outlay for 5 shelters: $127.00 million
- FY/23 HHH Department Contracts: $ 62.28 million
- FY/24 HHH Department Contracts: $ 63.10 million
- FY/25 HHH Department Contracts: $ 61.23 million
- FY/26 HHH Department Contracts: $ 53.90 million
- FY/27 HHH Department Contracts: $ 85.28 million
TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY AND SERVICE CONTRACTS: $452.79 MILLION
Keller has increased spending for services to the unhoused in one year from $53,901,355 (F/Y ‘26) to $85,283,471 (F/Y ’27). The biggest obstacle is that 75% of the homeless refuse city shelter and services, yet millions are being spent. Keller has advocated allowing upwards of 100 Safe Outdoor Spaces for 1,000 homeless to camp, scattered through out the city.
The fiscal year budgets for the HHH Department service contracts for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 divided by the most recent 2026 Point In Time figure provides a reasonable calculation of the amount spent individually on the 3,122 identified homeless over a the past two year period as $44,581.94. Following is the calculation:
$ 53.90 million (2026) + $85.28 million (2027) ÷ 3,122 unhoused = $44,581.94
It must be emphasized that the $44,581.94 per individual was for services only and does not include the cost of shelter operations.
The 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) survey found 3,122 people in Albuquerque called the streets or an emergency shelter their home. Of that number, 1,440 people were completely unsheltered with no roof over their heads, living on the streets or in emergency shelters. The 2026 PIT report revealed an increase in homelessness going from 2,960 in 2025 to 3,112 in 2026, an increase of 152 people.
Statewide, 2026 PIT Count found a total of 2,173 people within 1,239 households experienced homelessness in the Balance of State on January 26th, 2026 reflecting and increase of 450. In 2025, the Balance of the State total was 1,723 homeless people.
Simply put, Albuquerque has become New Mexico’s de facto “homeless capitol” providing shelter and services to the homeless for all communities throughout New Mexico. The problem is that the City’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not any better after spending a staggering $452.79 million dollars with the unhoused proliferating city streets.
UNHOUSED POPULATION INCREASES UNDER KELLER
The city’s homeless population has more than doubled from 2022 to 2026, while the increase in homeless people jailed by the county has more than tripled during the same time period. Police and court records and interviews with homeless people show the increase in their incarceration is primarily driven by the cascading effects of repeatedly citing people who are experiencing homelessness.
A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self report having a serious mental illness, 25% self report having a substance use disorder and around 66% experience some form of mental health condition. A report by the New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group found that 65% of individuals who enter the state’s criminal justice system have behavioral health needs and the criminal justice system cannot provide necessary medical treatment and facilities.
A major problem is that approximately 75% to 80% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services, yet the city spends upwards of $55 to $85 million a year on contracts to provide services and assistance to the unhoused
METROPOLITAN COURT DIVERSION COURT
On January 6, 2026, the Metropolitan Court Diversion Court was launched. The court redirects people with serious mental illness into voluntary treatment as an alternative to criminal prosecution for minor and nonviolent crimes. The court deals with people who previously have had criminal charges dismissed because they were found incompetent to stand trial. Eligible defendants are assessed by a social worker or case manager at the point of prosecution and offered on a voluntary basis a structured diversion option, including shelter intake, case management, substance use or mental health treatment, or other supportive services.
FORM SPECIALIZED UNIT TO INITIATE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS
It is likely that the Albuquerque Police Department and the city’s Community Safety Department know who the “frequent flyers” are and who need to be taken immediately off the streets because they pose and immediate threat to themselves and others. Both departments could and should assist the District Attorney or the City Attorney with civil mental health commitments of the unhoused and file civil mental commitment actions.
Under New Mexico statutes, the legislature has empowered District Attorneys authority to initiate civil mental health commitments. The Bernalillo County District Attorney and the Albuquerque City Attorney’ office should form a specialized unit of at least four attorneys to deal exclusively with civil mental commitment actions in the Metropolitan Court’s new Diversion Court. The state or courts would provide funding for the mental health services provided by the state through the Behavioral Health Trust Fund and the Behavioral Health Reform Package.
The District Attorney should cross deputized Assistant City Attorney’s, supported with para legals, to initiate mental health commitment proceedings to work in unison with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Such an arrangement of cross deputization of Assistant City Attorney’s has occurred in the past with the City Attorney’s Metro Court Traffic Court arraignment program that processed at one time 60,000 cases per year negotiating plea agreements. Under the process, citations are issued by sworn police and dates for arraignments by the court are immediately scheduled in the citations. The arraignment dates could be the initial step to begin the process of civil mental health commitments.
It is understood the Gateway Shelter on Gibson, which is the former Lovelace Medical Center and Hospital, is still largely vacant and has upwards of 200 patient rooms that are vacant. The Gateway Shelter on Gibson should be utilized for referrals by the Metropolitan Court’s “Diversion Court” with the State providing mental health services to those committed for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
More must and can be done by the courts mandating unhoused people off the streets and ordering them into the mental health or drug addiction treatment programs they desperately need. The Albuquerque City Attorney and the Bernalillo County District Attorney should form a specialized unit to initiate civil mental health commitments in Metro Court to secure court orders to get chronically mentally ill and drug-addicted people off city streets and get them the medical or mental health counseling help they desperately need.
Links to related articles are here: