EVERYONE NEEDS A FRIENDLY HOME โ
Jan. 13, 2026 – After a push by an Albuquerque city councilor to get more housing for people recovering from drug addiction, the city is considering starting up a more-than $1 million pilot program. Itโs something that City Councilor Renรฉe Grout said she hopes can help get people back on their feet, faster. โMy goal is to see that this kind of support can help people be more successful in being able to sustain being on their own and taking care of themselves and their families,โ Councilor Grout said. Albuquerque City Councilor Renรฉe Grout spoke on a new plan to help house at least 25 people coming out of treatment for drug and alcohol addiction through whatโs being called the โContinuing Sobriety Voucherโ pilot program. โWhat makes this voucher different is folks are opting into the fact that they want to live a sober life,โ Councilor Grout said. โThey really want to get better, and having support to help them achieve their goal, which is living sober.โ
The City of Albuquerqueโs โHealth, Housing, and Homelessnessโ Department came up with the framework for the pilot after Councilor Grout spearheaded a resolution last year to make the new program, which pays for up to 18 months of housing for people exiting substance abuse programs. โThe apartment association is in support of this program,โ Councilor Grout said. โThey have a lot of their members that are excited to have this type of tenant living on their properties. So I hope itโs in good places around town. Theyโre gonna be just like you and me trying to get by day by day, but with some extra support.โ
