Crisis Center in LC Expects To Open Later This Year

what the mentally ill in dona ana county really need is about to open. it’s right next door to the county detention center in downtown las cruces. the center was built three years ago and cost taxpayers two million dollars. abc-7’s jamie warren is live from our new mexico mobile newsroom with a look at why it’s still not open. jamie? the idea for this center was developed 10 years ago… but there are still only empty chairs and beds inside: 72048 lets get it off the ground and see if it flies, what have we got to lose? mental health activist ron gurley says he’s ready for the cris triage center to open its doors but he worried about the county’s decision to find a private operator. 71942 you cannot make money off of adult mental illness with out cutting corners jamie michael with the county’s health and human services department reassures that when an operator signs, it will accommodate those with mental health problems 7:29:00 we want to make sure they leave here with resources so once the cris has passed we don’t want to open the door and say see you later michael says the reason the facility’s been empty for so long is not because of a lack of funding the county’s been trying to find the right company for the job 7:32:16 there are not a lot of free standing buildings like this that we can look at and say we want that exact thing here the center would be a place for law enforcement to bring the mentally ill who are causing harm to themselves or others. theyd be evaluated and given resources instead of being sent back to the streets gurley says once it finally opens itll greatly benefit the community 7:16:44 lets try this and see lets do it because it works other places michael says she’s hoping for a grand opening by the end of this year. live from our new mexico mobile newsroom jamie warren abc7. jamie, thank you for the latest on that.