26
PEOPLE of GOD
April 2020
Generations @ West Mesa Grand Opening
Archbishop John C. Wester blesses Generations Older adults face a severe housing shortage in Albuquerque – the city estimates that an additional 200+ units are needed to meet the demand for affordable housing. In collaboration with real estate developer Gorman & Co., Catholic Charities has spent years developing and building Generations @ West Mesa, an affordable living community serving older adults caring for grandchildren. The Grand Opening Ceremony for the facility took place on February 27th, opening with a blessing by Archbishop John C. Wester and followed by addresses from Jim Gannon of Catholic Charities, Brian Swanton of Gorman & Co., and local officials. Residents of the new complex, who began moving in as early as January, joined in the festivities and shared their experiences at Generations with Catholic Charities staff and community partners. Many of the new residents are excited and relieved to be able to rely on stable housing for themselves and their grandchildren, and appreciate the special features such as a walking track, exercise room and playground that serve the needs of both older adults as well as children. Catholic Charities will continue to recruit new residents for Generations and will also staff the complex with a Resource Coordinator who will help residents access other public services and community resources. In his blessing of the new complex, Archbishop Wester said, “May God always be here among us. May He nurture the love found here. Share in their joys, comfort them in their sorrows. … May God seek to make this new home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
