Bernalillo County commissioners approved an item Tuesday to keep housing voucher rates unchanged for 2026, rejecting a federal decrease that officials warned would harm low-income renters.
The county will maintain current subsidy levels, which average 2.9% above the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s fair market rents, to help tenants stay competitive in a rising rental market.
Under the Housing Choice Voucher program, tenants pay 30% of their income toward rent and utilities, with the county covering the rest up to a set payment standard. HUD allows local authorities to set standards between 90% and 110% of Fair Market Rents.
The maximum voucher payment for a two-bedroom apartment remains $1,466 per month. Effective Feb. 1, Bernalillo County’s gross rent payment standards range from $1,009 for a studio to $2,476 for a four-bedroom apartment.
Even with current rates, county housing officials report voucher holders struggle to find housing amid “soaring rents that have become a burden for program participants.” Keeping local rates above federal levels helps families secure housing, according to County Housing Deputy Director Carrie Ellis, at a Dec. 10 commission meeting.
The two-bedroom voucher payment of $1,466 is a 56% increase from the $940 it paid in 2021. The current rate, however, still trails many market-rate apartments.
For eligibility or to apply, contact the Bernalillo County Housing Department at (505) 314-0200, visiting 2210 Centro Familiar Blvd SW or visiting bernco.gov/community-services/housing-services-programs.