Innovative Thinking Innovative Environments
WEST SIDE EXPANSION PROJECT
Saranam Groundbreaking Ceremony
Representatives from Albuquerque nonprofit Saranam, elected officials, and contractors broke ground Tuesday, February 22nd on the new west side Saranam campus near Montaño and Coors. This campus will house 27 families without homes.
ECOterra Design-Build is proud to be a part of this project. To read more, scroll down.
SEE THE MEDIA COVERAGE:
MISSION
SARANAM, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an innovative two-generational program that addresses the significant underlying causes of homelessness — lack of support systems and community, poverty, despair, and isolation. Saranam provides families with safe housing, intensive case management, a supportive community, and a pathway to self-sufficiency through education. With basic living needs provided for up to two years, families can focus their efforts on education, vocational development, and acquiring life skills for independent living.
ECOterra Design-Build is joining up with other construction professionals and trades — to create SARANAM WEST, a project on the west side of Albuquerque to develop homes for families without housing that need assistance.
SARANAM has operated its current 20-unit campus on the east side of Albuquerque since 2005. Since 2015, a second site to increase the impact on ending family homelessness has been planned.
A $4.5 million capital campaign project was committed to for the development of a 3.5-acre property next to the Mesa View United Methodist Church west of Montano Road and Coors.
With our team’s vision, former portable Albuquerque Public School buildings will be reimagined and remodeled into net-zero, energy- efficient apartments for these families.
To read more about SARANAM WEST, scroll down below the renderings.
Saranam West-Side Expansion Project
Like SARANAM’s east-side location, this property provides easy access to many necessities for our clients: safety, public transportation, grocery, childcare, and other services. The bus lines run nearby for easy access to the UNM and CNM campuses.
The concept design for the expansion project will double SARANAM’s capacity and will include 27 small homes, a playground, a gathering space, a community garden, and parking. The 3.5-acre space will also include classrooms, storage, and office space.
A safe home opens the door to a better future.
Housing ends homelessness.
That’s why every SARANAM family lives in a fully furnished apartment. It’s not just a place to call home, it’s the scaffolding for the education and community that families undertake to overcome poverty.
On their first day at SARANAM, families move into their own apartment. Each home has a kitchen and is furnished, fully stocked, and custom decorated. It’s a turning point. They know they’re finally safe and have the foundation they need to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.
For SARANAM families a safe home means:
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Protection from the elements and all the risks of homelessness
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Control over their environment
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Childcare support
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Access to quality schools
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Consistent phone and internet service
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Community to offer support and friendship
Families are welcome to take all of the furnishings in their apartment when they exit, making it easy for them to set up their next home.
Creating a home for every family
More than 150 volunteers spend about 750 hours preparing our apartments for new families. They transform each unit into a cozy home with furniture, accessories, and personalized decorations from our warehouse. They then stock the apartments with personal care items, paper goods, and food. Everyday items including toiletries, diapers, and cleaning supplies are replenished monthly. When our families are ready to move on, they’re invited to take everything in their apartment with them, so they can start their new lives in comfort.
If you are interested in joining our community team as a volunteer, a donor or in another capacity, please contact us at: https://saranamabq.org/get-involved/volunteer-donate/