REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY FUNDING
Creating Affordable Housing in Rural Areas
For Immediate Release
Contact: Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen
(505) 986-4733
February 27, 2013
Senate Bill 61: Regional Housing Authorities
Sponsors:
Senate President Tempore Mary Kay Papen (D-Dona Ana-District 38)
Senate President Tempore Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe-District 24)
SANTA FE–For many New Mexico families and individuals in remote regions of the state, finding a decent place to live is very difficult. It is not unusual for families in rural areas to live in aging substandard homes, many of which are poorly heated, leaky and unsafe.
State Senators, Mary Kay Papen, D-Dona Ana, and Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, are sponsoring SB 61, Regional Housing Authorities, which will provide funding for the support, training and oversight of New Mexico’s three regional housing authorities to help them operate efficiently and create affordable housing in unserved areas of the state. Regional authorities manage affordable rental housing and rental vouchers and create new affordable housing programs in areas that do not have adequate local or municipal housing authorities.
The $250,000 allocation will be administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA), which was mandated by state officials in 2006 to restructure the regional authorities and provide oversight.
“Now more than ever, regional housing authorities are the key to providing safe stable housing for New Mexico’s rural families,” Senator Papen said. “Funding cuts are forcing many local housing authorities to close. Regional authorities must expand their capacity and services into those areas.”
Seven years ago, MFA was mandated to restructure New Mexico’s seven regional housing authorities and provide oversight to them, including implementing new governance, training and reporting requirements. There has been no fraud, waste or abuse within the regional housing authorities since MFA began its oversight function.
SB 61 received a do-pass from the Senate Public Affairs Committee and will be scheduled before the Senate Finance Committee on a date to be announced.
To receive information and updates on this and other affordable housing legislation, go to: www.housingnm.org.
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