Albuquerque and Bernalillo County will receive $80 million for housing and homelessness projects as part of a statewide initiative to expand affordable housing and reduce homelessness, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday.
The funding is part of a $120 million statewide allocation announced earlier this month, with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ Office of Housing overseeing distribution of the funds.
“When families don’t have to worry about keeping a roof over their heads, everything else becomes possible,” Lujan Grisham said in a press release. “These investments reflect our commitment to tackling housing and homelessness with urgency and compassion.”
The first round of allocations prioritizes projects in the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County metropolitan area, with officials aiming to fully expend the funds by June 30, 2026.
The largest single allocation, $17.9 million, will go toward the Poblana Place Apartments project. Bernalillo County is negotiating to purchase the 84-unit complex at 2818 Fourth St. NW to provide workforce housing and supportive services for seniors and displaced youth.
Another major project, the Wells Fargo Building redevelopment, will receive $10 million to convert the 13-story structure into Lomas Tower, creating 100 residences for an estimated 140 people. The units will be available to those earning less than 70% of the area median income.
The Gateway and Youth Homelessness Facilities will receive nearly $16.8 million to expand services, including women’s and men’s housing and treatment navigation programs, as well as a new facility specifically for young adults ages 18-25.
“It has taken us years to build our ‘all of the above,’ layered approach to housing with the Gateway system that meets people where they are,” Mayor Tim Keller said in the release. “We’re seeing results, and we appreciate the support from the governor and the legislature.”
Other funded projects include $6 million for Tierra Linda, which will add 240 homes in southwest Albuquerque for residents earning less than 60% of area median income, and $1.5 million for Sombra del Oeste, a mixed-income townhome development designed for first-time buyers.
New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, said the investment addresses multiple challenges facing the state.
“Safe, stable housing is not only key to improving the well-being of our kids and families, it will also help us tackle some of the toughest challenges facing our state—like persistent crime and generational poverty,” Martínez said in the release.