New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty News:

SANTA FE — The existing Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and Eviction Prevention and Diversion (EPD) program emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis.

These programs have proven to be very effective for the state. Because of these programs, thousands of New Mexico’s families were able to keep their housing over the last 2.5 years and their landlords received the rent they were owed.

The programs were funded with federal dollars which are quickly running out, and as of Jan. 1, the programs have been forced to scale down on the number of families they can assist. Soon the programs will be completely terminated if they are not funded.

Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham proposed allocating $25 million in leftover federal funds to keep the programs going in the next year, but it is unclear if these much-needed funds will make it into the budget currently before the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.

Reactions from local housing advocates:

“New Mexico’s rental assistance and eviction prevention programs have worked together to create a win-win program for our state’s renters and landlords alike. Renters who are struggling to pay rent can get the assistance they need, and landlords get the money they are owed,” Maria Griego said, Director of Economic Equity with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “This is a common sense and successful approach to addressing New Mexico’s housing crisis. We must continue to invest in these critically important programs.”

“New Mexico has been in a housing and eviction crisis for years – a crisis which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Rachel Biggs, chief strategy officer at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless. “Our state’s leadership must prioritize continued investments into proven and effective programs like the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program.”

“In 2022, the White House recognized New Mexico’s rental assistance and eviction prevention and diversion program as the “gold standard.” We are proud to say that we helped connect New Mexicans with over $15.8 million in the second half of 2022 alone and since the inception of our program, default eviction rates have plummeted.” Winter Torres, Director of the New Mexico Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program said. “With continued investment in these programs, we will continue to strengthen housing stability for New Mexico’s most vulnerable families.”