U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller highlighted $4.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending secured for the City of Albuquerque Gateway’s Medical Sobering Center. During their visit on April 4, Senator Luján, Secretary Becerra, and Mayor Keller toured the Sobering Center and met with local officials to discuss behavioral health and substance use initiatives.
In addition to Senator Luján, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) helped secure this funding to support Gateway’s Medical Sobering Center’s work to help people get sober. It also helps facilitate access to long-term recovery services, case management, and recovery housing. Last week, Senator Luján secured $15 million for 26 New Mexico projects, including investments in flood and fire mitigation, health care access, small business support, and workforce development.
“Today, I had the honor of joining our city’s healers and folks who are on a mission to make our communities safer for the people who call Albuquerque home. It takes all of us working together, telling this story, and supporting one another to solve the substance use disorder crisis. And that’s what the Sobering Center represents,” said Senator Luján. “I am proud to have secured over $4 million in federal funding to support this facility, helping their staff get the resources they need to help people in their most vulnerable moments. I’m glad this innovative effort will play a key role in helping our communities stay safe and well, while serving as a national model for how to best address the substance use crisis.”
“At HHS, we’re making investments in prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support,” said HHS Secretary Becerra. “We’re also working hard to change the narrative in our Latino communities, and chip away at age-old stigmas that make it harder for people to reach out for help. We will continue to do this work for as long as necessary – until we’ve followed through on our promises to families in communities across the country.”
“The Sobering Center at Gateway will fill a critical need in our community, alleviating the strain on first responders, hospitals, emergency departments, and providing a safe place for people to sober up and connect to next steps on their path to recovery,” said Mayor Keller. “We appreciate the support from Senator Luján, Secretary Becerra, and all of our leaders in Washington to invest in this place of hope and healing.”
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