Albuquerque

Albuquerque stretches across the high desert under the Sandia Mountains, a sun-baked city with a gritty, resilient character shaped by Route 66 and a deep mix of Hispanic, Native, and Anglo cultures. The median household income here is around $58,000 a year, but that number hides a lot — many people are just getting by, and poverty is a daily reality for a large share of residents. According to the city's 2023 point-in-time count, 2,159 people were experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque, a number that doesn't include those staying in cars, camping in the bosque, or couch-surfing. Local organizations that know these streets firsthand include St. Martin's Hospitality Center, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, and Roadrunner Food Bank. They are here because this city has a quiet, stubborn heart that refuses to look away. You are not alone in this — keep moving, keep breathing, and reach out when you can.