The question of how many beds are available for people experiencing homelessness has emerged as a sticking point as cities across the country grapple with how to tackle the issue. With this in mind, City Desk ABQ called around to 14 shelters identified by the City of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Coalition to End […]
Housing & Homelessness
Keller aims to expand homeless, recovery services
Mayor Tim Keller used the occasion of his State of the City address Aug. 17 to highlight a series of initiatives (some new, some in progress) that are designed to improve the lot of those experiencing homelessness — including adding or bolstering four city-run facilities to serve different populations. The Metro Homelessness Initiative (MHI) is […]
A dearth of public bathrooms is more than just an inconvenience
At Mayor Tim Keller’s State of the City address, he said there are an estimated 5,000 people living on the streets in Albuquerque. For those thousands — along with other city residents — locating a public restroom can be a challenge. While there’s no shortage of proposed solutions, city officials and advocates alike say none […]
Housing shortage could put brakes on new short-term rentals
The surge of short-term rentals and the rise of companies such as Airbnb has made it more difficult to find a home to rent or a house to buy in Albuquerque. The issue has spurred city councilors to propose a bill to limit the number of short-term rentals in certain areas, but others say it’s […]
International District could see $50 million boost from feds
The buzz has been building among city officials and International District residents about the prospect that up to $50 million in federal money could be funneled into an area that desperately needs it. The city and the Albuquerque Housing Authority (AHA) were recently awarded a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant through the U.S. Department of […]
Task force recommends universal basic income for at-risk families in NM
By Austin Fisher A task force created by the New Mexico Legislature to address children’s well-being has a simple suggestion for reducing child poverty: give families money. The Children’s Code Reform Task Force looked over New Mexico’s child and family welfare law, and came up with 25 different recommendations which represent “an evolving understanding of the […]
Homelessness, crime push rents higher says International District landlord
Property owners in the International District say homeless encampments and crime have caused insurance rates to skyrocket — in some cases tripling — and are contributing to higher rents for tenants in order to offset the costs. One well-known landlord with 1,800 apartments located mostly in the Southeast area — Chuck Sheldon — said the […]
City places $744K bet on eyesore at troubled intersection
One of the city’s highest profile eyesores is poised to be energized with $744,332 in tax incentives designed to motivate private developers to invest in areas that are underdeveloped. Park Central — a boarded-up 10-story office building on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and San Mateo Boulevard — is one of four housing projects […]
Applications open in Sept. for first round of $125 million in state housing loans
By Patrick Lohmann A key part of what state lawmakers called a “historic” investment in affordable housing will take a major step forward in September, when applications open for what will ultimately be $125 million in loans to develop middle-income housing and affordable housing infrastructure. An interim legislative committee Monday approved rules for administering a […]
NM governor hiring at least two people for her new statewide housing office
By Patrick Lohmann Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office is seeking applicants to fill at least two jobs for the newly created “Office of Housing,” a small group of executive branch officials tasked with coordinating various statewide housing programs. Creating a statewide housing office under the governor’s control was one of Lujan Grisham’s main priorities during […]