The average Albuquerque home is 44 years old, and a lot of families can’t cover the big repair bills that come with aging houses. On Sept. 15, the City Council approved a program to help, passing the measure 5-3.
The Preserving Albuquerque Through Critical Housing (PATCH) program will provide up to $75,000 in forgivable loans for essential fixes like roofs, plumbing and electrical systems.
“PATCH will give homeowners peace of mind, ensuring they don’t have to choose between a costly repair and staying in their family home,” said Mayor Tim Keller in a statement. “This program keeps families rooted in their histories, homes, and communities that they’ve worked so hard to build.”
The program takes effect Jan. 1 and targets homeowners earning 80% or less of the area median income. Supporters said it will help longtime residents stay in their homes and stabilize neighborhoods as repair costs rise and federal pilot funds run out.
The ordinance says its purpose is “to preserve long-term homeownership, stabilize neighborhoods and maximize the public benefit of housing investment.” The program offers zero-interest loans up to $75,000 for repairs, including roofs, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, foundation work and sewer lines.
The program expands a federal pilot that helped 60 households using $3.3 million in ARPA funding, with repairs averaging $40,000 each, according to city officials. Twenty-nine homes have completed repairs, while others remain in progress. Under PATCH, loans are forgiven after homeowners stay put for five to 15 years, depending on the repair cost.
“A quarter of the people who live in Albuquerque are at 80% AMI or less,” Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn said. “That makes it almost impossible to ever save up the amount of money that’s needed to provide these kinds of structural repairs to a house that is, on average, 44 years old.”
Councilors Dan Lewis, Dan Champine and Brook Bassan voted against the measure, citing concerns about funding sources and program oversight. The city has not identified specific funding but plans to seek federal, state and private foundation grants.
“The passage of this ordinance is a landmark moment for our city, a testament to our commitment to ensuring every resident has access to a safe and stable home,” said Councilor Joaquín Baca, the bill’s sponsor.
The program will be administered through the city’s Health, Housing and Homelessness Department through a competitive bidding process.
“We’ve seen the results. People are staying housed because of Home Rehab,” said Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez. “This is about prevention, and now is the time to expand on these efforts.”