Aug. 26 -- At least one thousand people. That's the number of unhoused individuals local government officials are hoping to get off the streets by next summer.
They hope to do so with a more than $80 million investment from the state, aimed at supporting housing projects and homelessness initiatives across Bernalillo County.
"We need help now because these are tough times," Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said, highlighting challenges with affordable housing shortages, addiction and homelessness.
"There is no one answer to all these issues I just laid out. You actually have to attack the problem across the spectrum, whether it's rehab and prevention, whether it's treatment," Keller continued. "I think this is the first comprehensive approach to this."
The announcement comes as Keller seeks a third term and has come under fire for the city's twin homelessness and housing problems.
State GOP Chair Amy Barela said in a statement Tuesday that "These investments are designed to lift up families, create stability, and strengthen our communities."
"From new workforce housing at Poblana Place Apartments, to senior housing at Juniper Flats, to expanded youth homelessness facilities, these projects prove what can be accomplished when taxpayer dollars are used wisely to improve lives," she said.
Barela continued that "our taxpayer dollars must be protected" and cautioned that threatened federal funding cuts -- like those currently leveled at the state by the Trump administration -- could imperil such investments.
"New Mexicans should not have to choose between affordable housing projects that improve our neighborhoods and highway funds that keep our infrastructure strong."
The roughly $80 million will fund 10 projects in the area, including seven affordable housing developments and expansions to homelessness facilities and programs. Of the millions in funding, 23% will benefit homelessness projects, including prevention, and 77% will go toward housing.
"These are investments that are targeted for working families, so that they can afford their housing. These are investments for people out on the streets, so they can access transitional and supportive housing," said New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque. "These are big-time ideas, big-time investments, and this is just the first step."
The investment comes a week after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions' Office of Housing would distribute $120 million across the state to expand affordable housing, reduce homelessness and improve public safety.
"When families don't have to worry about keeping a roof over their heads, everything else becomes possible," said Lujan Grisham in a statement. "These investments reflect our commitment to tackling housing and homelessness with urgency and compassion."
The funding for housing and homelessness in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County comes from money appropriated by state lawmakers.
The Legislature specifically earmarked $110 million in this year's $10.8 billion budget bill for affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs statewide. That came after lawmakers appropriated more than $20 million for such programs in the previous year.
However, Lujan Grisham vetoed a provision in this year's budget bill that would have directed how the funding should be geographically distributed.
After the veto, Department of Workforce Solutions Secretary Sarita Nair called Speaker Martínez to assure him that the department still planned to "provide that level of support to this part of the state," she said Tuesday.
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County will receive the greatest -- and first -- portion of the funding, which was a result of needing to identify projects that could meaningfully spend the money by June 2026, Nair said.
"We wanted to place the projects in the right pot of money to ensure we made the most of all these investments," Nair said.
Martínez said he and his colleagues "took a lot of heat" for requesting such a hefty investment for the area.
"Because why is Albuquerque getting this special pot of money? Well, here's why. Over 70% of our unhoused population comes from other parts of the state. Why? Because here is where the services are for communities," said Martínez, who grew up in Albuquerque.
The project that will receive the most from the $80 million is the Poblana Place Apartments, a "move-in ready" 84-unit complex that Bernalillo County is in negotiations to purchase with the purpose of adding workforce housing and support services for seniors and displaced youth. The project, located at 2818 Fourth NW, is set to receive nearly $18 million.
The West Mesa Ridge multifamily facility under construction at 701 Coors NW and set to house up to 448 people, will receive more than $10 million. The Gateway and Youth Homelessness Facility, a wraparound services hub with locations at 5400 Gibson SE and 7440 Jim McDowell NW, will collect more than $16 million to expand programs, resources and the number of beds.
The rest of the initial allocation of the $120 million includes roughly $11 million for housing and homelessness projects in Doña Ana County, more than $13 million for housing projects in other areas of New Mexico, and $7.8 million to support families experiencing homelessness in school districts in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.
In total, officials say the investments will create and support more than 1,500 affordable housing units, more than 1,500 shelter beds and programs, more than 150 transitional housing units and more than 3,500 families through prevention programs.
For Bernalillo County, the funding is expected to deliver 1,062 housing units and 925 beds for people experiencing homelessness.
"We need this for our community," said Bernalillo County Commissioner Barbara Baca. "Many families are making impossible choices between housing and food and too many people are without shelter. We all see it.
"Housing is not just about buildings, however. It's about the people, our children, our seniors and our working families. When we invest in housing, we are investing in a safer neighborhood, better educational outcomes and (a) stronger economy for all."
Journal Capitol Bureau Chief Dan Boyd contributed to this report. Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Albuquerque Journal. You can reach her at [email protected].