Albuquerque reflects New Mexico’s remarkable diversity, with nearly 80% of residents identifying as people of color and 10% as people who immigrated. However, residents face significant housing challenges, with single-family home prices increasing 8% last year and nearly 300% over the past generation—far outpacing wage growth. More than one-third of households experience a cost burden, particularly affecting median and low-income renters and potential homeowners. The International District exemplifies these challenges, with high poverty rates but significant potential for affordable housing development due to many infill and underutilized properties along Route 66.
To address these challenges, the City has committed to building 5,000 affordable housing units by 2027, updating zoning laws to allow hotel conversions and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), appropriating $20 million to affordable housing, and securing a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant for the International District. The FUSE Executive Fellow will support the Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness by designing and securing funding for a program to help homeowners finance ADUs for residents with lower incomes, serving as the department lead for the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to transform the International District while developing high-quality affordable housing and identifying and securing funding for an affordable housing trust to provide predictable, renewable, unrestricted funding for administrative costs and program gaps. These initiatives will create a sustainable framework that enables more low-income Albuquerque residents to secure housing that fits their needs and budget while strengthening community resilience.