SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – State leaders are trying to address the housing and homelessness crisis in New Mexico through a new branch of the Governor’s Office. It aims to increase the number of homes and apartment units across the state.
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“We have professionals across New Mexico who can’t buy a home,” said Daniel Werwath, Office of Housing Director. “The median new home, in New Mexico, is around $450,000. It prices out 82% of the population. That’s just not a sustainable situation for something so essential as housing.”
To combat this, the state is hoping its new Office of Housing will entice developers to build more housing in New Mexico. The brand-new branch, which falls under the Governor’s Office, was started with $2 million in state funding. Officials say the new office will work with local government to help reduce regulation; in turn, making it easier, faster, and cheaper to develop housing in the state.
“To be able to accommodate building the kind of housing we need to build,” Werwath said.
They will also work on increasing funding statewide to build more houses, as well as provide strategies for developers. “Providing planning money, helping them design new programs, helping them update their land use and zoning,” Werwath explained.
State leaders say about 30,000-40,000 new housing units need to be built to meet the state’s housing needs. It will take about ten years of consistent housing development to meet that demand. “Making sure that we’re meeting all the unmet needs for housing across the income spectrum,” Werwath added.
The Office of Housing is looking to hire. They are seeking a Director of Homelessness Initiatives, who would be responsible for implementing strategies statewide. They also want to hire another three to five members to help with the program.
