As the funds fall in place for the homeless shelter backed by the City of Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico student government is set to weigh-in.
The Associated Students of UNM are set to host a forum with University administrators and city officials discussing the upcoming Gatehouse Center on Feb. 11th at 1 p.m in the Student Union Building Atrium (SUB.)
One possible location for the center is Lomas and Interstate 25, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal.
“(ASUNM) feels the more opportunity for students to voice their opinions on this project, the better,” ASUNM President Adam Biederwolf said.
Biederwolf said the goal of the forum is not to sway attendees but to educate them. He said the event will have a number of panelists including Lisa Huval, deputy director for housing and homelessness in the city’s Department of Family and Community Services.
“I mean it's the right thing to do,” Biederwolf said regarding the purpose of the event. “We see this project impacting everybody at the University.”
In total, four events will be hosted to gather the UNM community's perspective on the potential project.The University-hosted events include:
- Friday, Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. in the Domenici Hall auditorium
- Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m in the SUB Atrium (hosted by ASUNM)
- Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 12 p.m. in the SUB Ballroom C
- Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:15 p.m. in the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center auditorium
The 2018 Point-In-Time count (PIT) found 1,524 people were considered sheltered and unsheltered homeless people — 206 more than the 2017 PIT count that recorded 1,318 homeless people in the city limits, according to the Albuquerque Journal. That increase follows an average increase city-wide over six years, according to the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.
Wherever the new Gatehouse Center will be built, the project is funded by a $14 million General Obligation bond passed in 2019.
Justin Garcia is the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at editorinchief@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Just516garc
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