Programs

The Albuquerque Opportunity Center is unique for an emergency shelter in that it has the goal of a return to housing for every resident. Program staff work individually with residents to set goals for regaining self-sufficiency and to access community resources including housing. On average about 25% of the men who stay at the Albuquerque Opportunity Center exit into rental or supportive housing.

The AOC’s core program is homeless exit planning. The AOC staff connect homeless men with the resources they need to exit homelessness – resources such as the VA, financial assistance, employment, and healthcare.

Since its inception the Albuquerque Opportunity Center has chosen to fill gaps in services and work in partnership rather than duplicate existing services. In this way we create treatment “teams”, which are the most effective way to support homeless men. Community agencies offer a range of services on-site to help residents address their medical, employment, psychiatric, addiction, and other needs. First Nations provides HIV prevention outreach; the Veterans Administration informs veterans of their benefits and services eligibility; the Department of Health provides Hepatitis A and B vaccines; Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless provides low-level primary health care, acupuncture for pain and/or cravings, and identification card replacement services; New Mexico AIDS Services talks with men about prevention of HIV and hepatitis.