Hotel vouchers constitute one of the fastest emergency housing options available to people experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In Albuquerque, these vouchers provide homeless individuals and families with short-term emergency shelter; they are often distributed by municipal programs, nonprofit organizations, and churches—including the Albuquerque City-County Department of Health, Heading Home, the Barrett Foundation, and faith-based groups such as Calvary Church and St. Martin’s Hospitality Centre.
Organizations for Hotel Vouchers in Albuquerque
Heading Home
Heading Home provides hotel vouchers in Albuquerque, primarily through its community outreach program, StreetConnect, which focuses on stabilizing highly vulnerable individuals. Unlike conventional emergency shelters, it is generally not possible to walk in or call to “reserve” a hotel voucher with Heading Home. These vouchers are distributed based on professional referrals:
Referral Only: Vouchers are issued to clients referred by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), Albuquerque Community Services (ACS), partner hospitals, or the City’s Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness.
Priority: Priority for these vouchers is often given to individuals with severe behavioral health issues or medical vulnerabilities who are being assisted by community outreach teams.
For general inquiries regarding the StreetConnect program or voucher services, you may:
Call: 505-768-4980
Email: streetconnectinfo@headinghome.org
First Nations Community HealthSource (FNCH)
First Nations Community HealthSource (FNCH) provides hotel vouchers specifically through its Homeless Outreach Program (HOP). These vouchers are designed for short-term emergency stabilization and are strictly subject to funding availability. To receive a voucher, you must generally go through FNCH’s Homeless Outreach Program (HOP):
Case Management Collaboration: HOP case managers work in conjunction with FNCH’s Motel Voucher Program to verify eligibility and complete intake documentation.
Active Engagement: If you receive a voucher, you are expected to meet with a HOP case manager at least once during your stay to address your long-term housing needs.
Annual Limit: Generally, motel vouchers are available only once per year per individual.
Barrett Foundation
The Barrett Foundation in Albuquerque focuses primarily on ending homelessness among women and children by providing emergency shelter, housing assistance, and a limited motel voucher program.
The Barrett Foundation offers a limited number of motel vouchers to families and individuals. Please note that voucher availability depends strictly on available funding and that vouchers are not always available. Their voucher program is specifically designed to help families and children achieve immediate stability.
If vouchers are not available, the Barrett House shelter offers an alternative for women and their children. Unlike shelters that accept walk-ins, to participate in their long-term housing programs, you must be referred through the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH) by calling 505-217-9570.
Call 505-243-4887 to speak with a Resident Advocate, or leave a detailed message including your name, phone number, and the number and ages of your children.
Good Shepherd Center
The Good Shepherd Center (GSC) in Albuquerque primarily provides long-term housing vouchers, rather than emergency overnight hotel vouchers. While some community guides list them as a potential source of vouchers, GSC’s own programs focus on Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) to transition individuals into stable, permanent apartments.
GSC administers Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) vouchers for individuals over the age of 21 who are experiencing homelessness. GSC is an official site for the VI-SPDAT assessment, which constitutes the mandatory first step to be placed on the waiting list for housing vouchers in Albuquerque. Call 505-243-2527, ext. 200, to schedule an appointment.
They offer temporary and overnight shelter specifically for men, with a check-in window from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
City of Albuquerque / Bernalillo County
In the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, hotel vouchers are utilized as a limited-duration, emergency stabilization tool to bridge the gap between homelessness and permanent housing. These programs are managed primarily through specialized city and county departments and often require a referral for access.
The City’s Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness (HHH) collaborates with local agencies to manage the distribution of these vouchers.
Referral-based Distribution: Typically, vouchers are issued through Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), the police department, or partner hospitals.
Emergency Displacement: If the City closes a motel due to building or safety code violations, ACS may provide vouchers to displaced residents to prevent them from becoming immediately homeless.
Tracking Portal: As of March 2026, the City launched a new housing assistance website to improve transparency for voucher applicants.
Wellness Hotels: In the past, the City has operated “wellness hotels” specifically for families with children and vulnerable individuals with health issues; however, these are typically seasonal in nature or subject to availability.
Since these vouchers are generally not obtained through direct, walk-in services, you must use the following points of contact to initiate the process:
General Homelessness Helpline: Call 311 or 505-768-HELP.
Crisis/Community Outreach: Call Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) at 505-242-2677 for immediate shelter assistance for yourself and your children.
Emergency Shelters
Gateway West (formerly known as Westside Emergency Housing Center)
Gateway West (formerly known as the Westside Emergency Housing Center, or WEHC) is the city’s largest low-barrier emergency shelter. It is located at 7440 Jim McDowell Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121.
Capacity and Eligibility: It has the capacity to shelter up to 660 people (men, women, and couples) per night.
Open 24/7: The facility remains open year-round and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Services: Residents are provided with three meals a day, a warm bed, secure under-bed storage space, and access to showers and an on-site medical clinic.
Pet Policy: A maximum of two pets per person is allowed.
Support: On-site case management is offered to assist guests in transitioning toward stable housing.
Main Line: 505-839-9193
Joy Junction Shelter
Joy Junction is New Mexico’s largest emergency shelter, offering 24/7 shelter specifically designed to keep families together. Located at 4500 2nd St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, this faith-based non-profit organization accepts individuals and families regardless of their composition, including married couples and single parents with children.
Emergency/Main Line: 505-877-6967
Toll-Free Helpline: 800-924-0569
Website: JoyJunction.org
Barrett Foundation, Inc.
The Barrett Foundation administers several housing programs specifically aimed at women and children in Albuquerque. Its focus centers on helping families transition from an emergency crisis situation into permanent, stable housing. This is their primary short-term stay facility, located at 10300 Constitution Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.
You must call their Resident Advocate at 505-243-4887 to check for bed availability. They do not accept walk-ins; you must first complete a telephone assessment.
- Shelter Intake/Advocacy: 505-243-4887
- Website: BarrettFoundation.org
Albuquerque Opportunity Center
The Albuquerque Opportunity Center (AOC), operated by Heading Home, is a comprehensive facility located at 715 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. It provides emergency shelter for adult men and a medical respite program for both men and women.
The AOC offers 56 emergency beds for adult men (ages 18 and older) on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the Admissions Line at 505-344-4340 daily between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., or between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. If you do not receive a response, it generally means that all beds are occupied for that day.
Note: Initial stays are for 30 days, but extensions of up to 90 days may be available for individuals who are actively working with the case management team to achieve their housing goals.
Good Shepherd Center
The Good Shepherd Center (GSC), located at 218 Iron Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, provides emergency shelter and essential services for men, while also offering daily community meals to anyone in need.
The Good Shepherd Center’s Men’s Night Shelter offers a safe place where adult men can sleep for short periods of time.
Admissions/Check-in: Monday through Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Check-out: Residents must vacate the premises by 7:00 a.m.
Requirements: Guests must be sober and willing to assist with cleaning the facility, provided their physical condition permits. Some sources indicate a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights for emergency shelter services.
Long-Term Housing Programs
These programs focus on helping individuals transition from homelessness to a permanent home:
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH): Provides up to 24 months of rental assistance and case management through providers such as Catholic Charities (505-724-4604) and S.A.F.E. House.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Long-term assistance for individuals with disabilities or those experiencing chronic homelessness; often administered by HopeWorks and Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless.
Bernalillo County Section 8: The waitlist for rental assistance vouchers reopens periodically; check their website or call 505-314-0200 for updates.
How to Access Immediate Help?
Call New Mexico 2-1-1 for referrals to local shelters and voucher programs.
Contact Heading Home directly at 505-344-4340 for immediate assistance.
Visit local churches (Calvary, St. Martin’s, First Presbyterian, Holy Family) for emergency support.
