November 19, 2025
Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) Celebrates National Rural Health Day on November 20, 2025
Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 2025 — Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) is proud to join communities across the country in celebrating National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Since 2011, this annual observance — founded and coordinated by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has been held on the third Thursday of November to spotlight the unique healthcare challenges and remarkable strength of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.
“AHCH is incredibly honored to have been selected as the 2025 New Mexico Community Star award recipient.” said Rachel Biggs, Chief Strategy Officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless. “We’re proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day and honor the unwavering commitment of healthcare providers, organizations, and community leaders who work every day to expand access and improve health outcomes for our most vulnerable community members across New Mexico.”
Every year, each state selects a Community Star to represent the work being done to address unique challenges and create innovative solutions in rural communities. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) partners with NOSORH to designate an awardee in New Mexico.
While homelessness is often perceived as an urban issue, both rural and urban communities experience significant impacts. People experiencing homelessness face higher rates of chronic disease, infectious illness, and behavioral health conditions. Recent homeless mortality data underscores the significant impact of homelessness on health – people who are unhoused die 20 years earlier than housed people and have 60% greater mortality risk than other low-income individuals.
This year, AHCH is marking the occasion by hosting a health fair with the NMDOH and partners and joining the nationwide #PowerOfRural social media campaign. Community members, partners, and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in celebrating National Rural Health Day to help highlight rural health’s impact in New Mexico.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), AHCH provides integrated primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care, along with supportive social services, to 5,000 people experiencing homelessness annually. Its Patient-Centered Medical Home model, guided by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), combines on-site services with extensive integrated health outreach across Bernalillo County.
For more information about National Rural Health Day and how to get involved, visit PowerOfRural.org.
To learn more about Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless visit abqhch.org.
To view all of the awardees nationwide, visit powerofrural.org/2025-community-stars/
