New Mexico

NLIHC has estimated a need for no less than $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and broke down the need and cost for each state (download Excel spreadsheet). 

In response to COVID-19 and its economic fallout, many cities and states are creating or expanding rental assistance programs to support individuals and families impacted by the pandemic, and NLIHC is tracking in-depth information on these programs.  

You can use the interactive map and searchable database to find state and local emergency rental assistance programs near you. You can also see the latest news on rental assistance programs through the state-by-state news tracker. Note that this is not a comprehensive list of all rental assistance programs as we continue to update frequently. If you are aware of a program not included in our database, please contact [email protected]. 

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Programs

Across the country, homeless service providers are struggling to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to follow public health guidelines and help ensure people’s safety, some shelters are being forced to reduce services, restrict admittance, or close entirely. The loss of these critical resources puts people experiencing homelessness at even higher risk of illness. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of shelter closings.

Below is a list of shelters that have had to majorly alter services or completely close:

The newest shelter in New Mexico, the Española Pathways Shelter, closed. It had opened in a temporary space as a warming center but closed early due to public health concerns. Staff and officials plan to reopen it when their permanent space is ready.

The Bernalillo County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) still has funds available. The county has distributed more than $3.7 million in rent relief to more than 531 county residents who live outside Albuquerque. Learn more here.

Updated on May 23, 2022

According to a Searchlight New Mexico analysis, New Mexico landlords sought to evict at least 191 tenants whose rental applications were pending between April and November 2021. In each case, the eviction was filed after the tenant applied for rental assistance but before the funds were distributed.

A new court-based program to help New Mexico tenants behind on their rent and provide landlords with an alternative to eviction will launch in February. The Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program will start in the Ninth Judicial District of Curry and Roosevelt counties on February 1 and expand statewide in March.

Updated on January 30, 2022

New Mexico is one of the last states with a statewide eviction moratorium still in effect, but it is set to expire in January. Housing advocates are anticipating a flood of evictions and an increase in homelessness this winter when the eviction moratorium ends. The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness says it is has been harder to track the number of unhoused individuals during the pandemic.

Updated on December 13, 2021

New Mexico agencies are racing to distribute at least $104 million in federal emergency rental (ERA) assistance by September 30 or risk forfeiting funds. As of mid-September, New Mexico has spent or assigned $51 million of ERA. 

Updated on October 5, 2021

Despite federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums, thousands of New Mexico residents have faced eviction since the beginning of the pandemic. New Mexico takes little action to track evictions and ensure landlords are complying with the law. Due to the lack of documentation required by the state’s courts, illegal evictions are nearly impossible to verify. 
Despite eviction bans, New Mexico landlords and property managers have filed more than 11,000 eviction notices since April 2020. A seven-month Searchlight New Mexico investigation found that hundreds of tenants in Albuquerque alone were evicted or threatened with eviction during the first four months when the CARES Act eviction moratorium was in effect. The largest share of evictions was carried about by a small fraction of landlords. 
Updated on August 30, 2021

The Santa Fe Reporter reports that Santa Fe officials included funding for several eviction prevention measures in the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2022, including $75,000 for a tenant/landlord eviction hotline. The budget would add $1.8 million to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund this year, with a significant amount of that money allocated for emergency rental assistance. According to the grassroots advocacy organization Chainbreaker Collective, as many as 5,700 Santa Fe residents could face eviction in the wake of the pandemic. Chainbreaker Collective and the California-based research firm Human Impact Partners hosted a panel on the findings in its report and efforts needed to prevent a crisis when the moratoriums are lifted.

Updated on May 3, 2021

During the 2021 legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers are expected to focus on pandemic relief, including a bill that would modernize the housing code to prevent evictions and a bill to prohibit source of income discrimination. The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness supports the modernization bill, as it would help individuals temporarily residing in motels overcome barriers to finding permanent housing solutions.

Updated on February 01, 2021

According to the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, state homeless shelters are concerned about reduced funding amid the ongoing pandemic and surges in homelessness and housing insecurity.

Updated on January 15, 2021

The City of Albuquerque is establishing additional housing options for people experiencing homelessness amid the ongoing pandemic. More than 630 people have been placed in emergency shelters, and four hotels are housing people experiencing homelessness who are elderly or have chronic conditions. A fifth hotel will open on November 30 for at-risk populations like families and seniors who have not tested positive for the coronavirus.

Updated on December 9, 2020

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the pandemic is exacerbating Santa Fe’s existing affordable housing crisis. While eviction moratoriums have helped many people stay in their homes, some renters have fallen through the cracks of eviction protections. Advocates say the city and state must pursue policy reforms to address Sante Fe’s housing crisis. 

Updated on November 10, 2020

After a recent COVID-19 outbreak at the Westside Homeless Shelter in Albuquerque, the city is conducting contract tracing but struggling to reach individuals who may have come in contact. The shelter is not accepting new people, and people who are being turned away from the shelter are sent to other shelters or given hotel vouchers if there no other options.

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Agency will begin accepting applications for the new COVID-19 Housing Cost Assistance Program on Monday, November 2. The program will provide mortgage and rental assistance to New Mexicans impacted by COVID-19.

Updated on October 26, 2020

Saranam, an Albuquerque nonprofit working to end family homelessness, is bringing 10 new families, including 21 children, into its program. Saranam provides fully-furnished apartments for families and additional resources, such as vocational training, further education, or life skills. The pandemic serves as a reminder that a job and steady income is critical to keeping families from becoming homeless, says the director of the program.

Updated on September 22, 2020

The Albuquerque Journal shares the story of a household evicted for non-payment of rent despite the New Mexico Supreme Court’s order prohibiting evictions throughout the pandemic. 

Updated on September 15, 2020

More than 100,000 New Mexico households have been unable to pay rent during the pandemic, and advocates estimate that 71,000 evictions will be filed in the next four months.

The Albuquerque City Council on August 17 approved using $300,000 of federal coronavirus relief funding for eviction prevention assistance programs. Some council members questioned whether the assistance would meet the need for assistance.

Updated on August 25, 2020.

Fifty-two municipalities and 30 counties in New Mexico submitted applications to the state for a share of $150 million in federal coronavirus relief funding. The City of Sante Fe requested $25.1 million, and Sante Fe County requested about $15 million, including $4 million in rental and housing assistance.

Updated on August 19, 2020.

While the temporary eviction moratorium ordered by the New Mexico Supreme Court and the city of Santa Fe remains in place, housing experts warn of a looming eviction crisis. 

Updated on August 11, 2020.

The New Mexico Department of Health told KOAT News that the state is using federal funding to convert 18 hotels across the state into non-congregate shelters for people experiencing homelessness, law enforcement officers, health care workers, and members of local tribes.

Updated on July 28, 2020.

Advocates in Albuquerque have protested the city’s decision to continue clearing encampments despite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning encampments and the pandemic. The city’s deputy director of housing and homelessness said that the city will not change its policy, even with the recent rise in new COVID-19 cases, citing that encampments pose serious health risks.

Updated on July 20, 2020.

Bernalillo County and Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) are partnering to provide motel vouchers to APS families who have recently become homeless due to the pandemic. Families will also receive assistance in seeking permanent housing and educational support.

Federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums are rapidly expiring and the CARES Act supplemental unemployment benefits will end soon; at that time, millions of low-income renters will be at risk of losing their homes. The NLIHC estimates at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance is needed to keep low-income renters stably housed during and after the pandemic. This tracker links to news reports of the growing evictions crisis in various cities and states. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of eviction updates.

More than 100,000 New Mexico households have been unable to pay rent during the pandemic, and advocates estimate that 71,000 evictions will be filed in the next four months.

Updated on August 28, 2020.

While the temporary eviction moratorium ordered by the New Mexico Supreme Court and the city of Santa Fe remains in place, housing experts warn of a looming eviction crisis.

Updated: August 12

State government never suspended evictions; state Supreme Court stayed execution of writs of restitution for nonpayment of rent if the resident can demonstrate a current inability to pay rent, but landlords can still file for eviction and cases can be held remotely or in person. 

Updated: August 1

In the third week of July, 29.8% of adults in New Mexico reported they had missed their previous housing payment or had little confidence they would make their next one on time, according to a weekly survey conducted by the Census. In the same survey, 66,818 renters reported they had not paid their previous rental payment.

Updated: July 29 

According to a weekly survey by the Census, 1 in 5 adults in the state either missed their last housing payment or have little/no confidence of being able to make next month’s housing payment.

Updated: July 16