Bernalillo County officials announced Thursday a change in the application process for acceptance into Tiny Home Village, the county’s transitional housing program.
Effective immediately, residents will be chosen exclusively through referrals from community providers. The shift, according to a county news release, is intended to streamline access for eligible individuals and engage other organizations in the process.
Under the new referral system, community providers may submit applications on behalf of eligible clients, the new release states. Two homes are currently available, and officials plan to create a waitlist, with new residents selected by lottery as openings arise.
“This referral-based model strengthens our partnerships with community providers and allows us to prioritize residents who are ready to engage with the support and services available,” Deputy County Manager for Behavioral Health Wayne Lindstrom said. “We ask that our community providers continue supporting clients on the waiting list, as this ongoing guidance is essential to their progress and readiness for transitional and eventually permanent housing.”
Tiny Home Village, 101 Texas Street SE, opened in 2021 and offers 18 to 24 months of housing in a community setting. Residents are housed in individual, 120-square-foot homes and have access to shared amenities that include bathrooms, showers, a kitchen and a common house.
Each home has its own heating and cooling unit, a queen-size bed, shelving, a small refrigerator and a desk.
The site also offers case management and other services designed to support residents as they work toward personal goals and plan transitions to permanent housing. The requirements for staying there include sharing in chores and participating in mental health and substance abuse counseling.
More information about Tiny Home Village, including eligibility requirements, is available here.