(Reading is probably faster, but this video may also be of interest.)
I looked it up on citi bank. I found the one-time-use virtual credit card with a low limit that I created in Dec 20th 2024. That's when I paid for a one night stay at a motel 6 in ABQ for Kevin. We didn't know each other very well. Why did I do that? How'd it turn out?
I don't remember seeing or hearing from Kevin again until late 2025 when Keith ran into him again near his businesses, Lignin and Folded Filter Paper (FFP), at California St. NE and Linn Ave. Kevin was looking for work again so starting in early 2026, I started hiring Kevin with increasing frequency to help with various public space beautification and community outreach efforts I have in the neighborhood. Reflecting back from now, July 2026, the collaborative work journey has been interesting, productive and demands a lot of effort. A net positive and with a lot of my job at FairWestWork devoted to management. And I have had a lot to learn!
Why do Kevin and I continue to work together? We've had numerous lost phones, lost housing opportunities, conversations that turned argumentative, etc so why do we keep working together? We just do. We find a way to keep it going. Good, bad, enabling, exploitative, coddling, unproductive, successful, inspiring, evolving, healing? Depending on the day, yes to some combination of that and that's life.
At the beginning of 2026, Kevin was staying at Gateway Center's mens housing navigation center. The shelter system seems to be centers all the way down. Don't think about that too hard! We made an interview about his stay at Gateway earlier in 2026.. Kevin's stay there ended before he got to 90 days and he was back to urban camping. Job stability and our ability maintain contact was stressed but we continued to do jobs, meet more neighbors and plan for the future.
Not having a home clearly correlates with having less ability to make and keep plans so working with Kevin while he ain't got no home is harder. In recognition of that, after he left Gateway Center and was again without a home nor stable temporary shelter, FWW helped to get him into ABQ Opportunity Center (AOC) run by Heading Home. He stayed there for about 45 days. I learned that the typical limit is 30 days unless you get an extension. Despite asking for an extension, Kevin wasn't able to remain at AOC. His case worker, Jeff Medina, emailed me. We talked on the phone on May 27th shortly after I wrote a letter of support for Kevin's extension request. The final decision was that Kevin was not communicating with his case worker enough to support his extension request. There's a lot to say about all of that. As local business owner Keith Hensley says, nothing is as simple as it sounds.
Again without a home through late May, June and into the beginning of July, Kevin and I stayed in contact and work persisted. As summertime temps increased, so did emotions and the number of highly charged conversations we had. In an effort to continue with the work, Kevin and I discussed options: shelters, detox, etc. The shelter and detox options were explored but I seemed to have wanted them more than him so we went back to discussing other options. In early June, I spoke with Janice and John at the Sundowner apartment complex, got Kevin an application, helped him to complete the application and began negotiating a contract with social, work and financial terms negotiated between Kevin and FairWestWork LLC (Let me know if you find errors in there!). Like the work, the contract will evolve and holding both of us mutually agreed upon standards will be required for a sustainable, productive, collaborative work environment.
Kevin moved into his apartment on July 3rd. More to report in the future.
In closing, FairWestWork LLC is always seeking more income. If you want to hire us or give us money/resources in some other way and learn more, reach out to either of us. Contact info on our website and in our pamphlet. Thanks for reading and to everyone but especially my wife, Julieta, for her continued support :)
