New Mexico
$500 million for affordable housing clears first committee – Source New Mexico
A Senate committee on Monday approved legislation that would put half a billion dollars toward affordable housing in New Mexico – a huge investment that one lawmaker said is necessary to stem the tide of homelessness and rising housing costs in the state.
Sen. Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe) acknowledged that the Legislature likely won’t award the full amount of her proposed $500 million appropriation request for the Housing Trust Fund, a program overseen by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.
She asked for that amount of money to send the message that there is an overwhelming need for a huge investment in housing across the state. And she said Housing Trust Fund administrators have proven themselves capable of leveraging relatively small appropriations from the state into more affordable housing options.
Lawmakers and tenants call on governor to make rent control a priority for 30-day session
“This is an agency that is proven, truly. They do great work. It’s statewide,” Rodriguez said. “You can just see the results. As soon as they get the funding, it goes out.”
The Senate Committee on Health and Public Affairs approved the legislation on a 6-3 vote, with all Republicans voting against. It now moves on to the Senate Finance Committee, where it will face more scrutiny.
The Housing Trust Fund was set up in 2005 to spur investments in affordable housing and to help people find a place to live. It provides grants for mortgage assistance, home weatherization and loans for affordable housing development, among other programs.
In all that time, the agency has received $61 million from the state, including $25 million of federal funds awarded to address the coronavirus pandemic. In July 2023, the fund also received $37.5 million in severance tax bond proceeds, of which more than half has been allocated, according to the agency.
With that funding, the agency has assisted 6,500 households by filling gaps in funding to keep people housed, helping make multi-million-dollar affordable housing complexes break ground, and getting homeless people off the streets.
Isidoro “Izzy” Hernandez, the Mortgage Finance Authority director, said the fund’s return on investment – based on the interest it receives on loans to developers, federal low-income tax credits and other sources – is 16-to-1.
The agency anticipates being able to spend $50 to $80 million from the fund per year, so estimates show the $500 million appropriation request would last for between six and 10 years, according to the Mortgage Finance Authority. Any money not spent in the first year would stay in the fund, according to the legislation.
As many as 20,000 New Mexicans experience homelessness over the course of the year
As part of her priorities this session, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for a $250 million appropriation for the Housing Trust Fund to assist renters, homeowners and those without shelter, as well as a loan program to finance building or renovation. She’s seeking another $250 million to the New Mexico Finance Authority for similar programs.
But the nonpartisan Legislative Finance Committee is seeking only a $50 million appropriation, according to its recommendations. The committee report does not explain why it arrived at that figure.
Nearly 4,000 New Mexicans were homeless during a 2023 point-in-time count, an increase of 48% since 2022 and likely a huge undercount.
The state lacks 32,000 units affordable to those with low incomes, and nearly 220,000 households in the state spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, according to the Mortgage Finance Authority.
In addition to sending along the proposed $500 million appropriation, the committee supported $500,000 for the state finance department, which Rodriguez said would go to help small towns complete housing plans that would qualify them for additional help from the Housing Trust Fund.
When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
But they don’t have to do it alone thanks to an organization helping New Mexico families with some of those burdens.
Watch the video above for more.
New Mexico state lawmakers held the first meeting of their Epstein “Truth Commission” on Monday, launching a formal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch and its potential use for criminal activity, human trafficking, and sexual abuse.
The four-person commission’s meeting lasted less than an hour but served as an opportunity for lawmakers to outline their plan and goals — and for Epstein survivors to have their voices heard.
RELATED STORY | New Mexico AG calls on Epstein survivors to come forward amid Zorro Ranch investigation
The only known Epstein survivor living in New Mexico, identified only as Rachel, spoke about her experiences. Lawmakers also heard from the family of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an Epstein victim who died by suicide in April of last year. Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law told the commission that Giuffre had repeatedly described being abused at Zorro Ranch, and that she paid the price for systems that for so long did not believe survivors.
“Virginia was not only abused by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell,” Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts said. “She was trafficked to extremely wealthy, powerful and dangerous individuals. Some of that trafficking happened right here in New Mexico at Zorro Ranch. That is not speculation. That is not rumor. That is testimony. And New Mexico now stands at crossroads. This state can either repeat the failures we have already witnessed across institutions and protected power over people. Or New Mexico can lead.”
Federal investigations into Epstein were conducted in Florida and New York, but no federal probe was launched in New Mexico. Giuffre’s family addressed that gap directly, expressing hope that a meaningful separation between state and federal government could benefit survivors. They said that when an Epstein survivor feels the federal government has wronged them, the state government should be able to step in and conduct its own investigation — and they hope something meaningful can come from this probe.
The commission left Monday’s meeting with 14 subpoenas. The subpoenas are not directed at specific individuals but target the Epstein Estate, as well as banks and other entities tied to Epstein or related investigations.
State Rep. Andrea Reeb, one of the lawmakers on the commission, told Scripps News there is a possibility they will need more resources before a final report can be completed. The commission faces a deadline of July 31 to produce an interim report, with a final report scheduled for later this year.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Epstein’s former New Mexico ranch searched in criminal investigation
Reeb said she is prepared to name names if she believes someone is involved, and that the commission is prepared to refer additional survivors to the Department of Justice at any time they come forward, in case they want to pursue legal action. The commission also said it will issue formal referrals to the state of New Mexico, Florida, New York, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other relevant international jurisdictions.
The commission said it is also prepared to make full legislative recommendations. At the time Epstein lived in New Mexico, he was not required to register as a convicted sex offender — and that law remains on the books today. The commission believes targeted changes to that law could make a significant difference.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Rail Yards Market celebrated the state’s rich indigenous culture and history over the weekend through artistry, food, and craftsmanship. Some of the many attractions included a variety of southwestern jewelry pieces, handmade leather goods, as well as contemporary beadwork and artwork showcasing centuries-old traditions.
The Ry-Dale Largo Dance Group also performed traditional Navajo dancing styles. “I think it’s really important for everybody to get out and mingle and sit next to each other and create art. It really forms a sense of community, and it’s nice to just sit and create with people next to you that just really enjoy doing art,” said Lisa Richards, beading instructor.
Organizers say the Rail Yards Market sits on Tiwa land, emphasizing their pride in uplifting indigenous voices through their vendors and partners.
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