New Mexico’s two U.S. Senators signed onto new legislation to help address housing shortages.
The bill, dubbed the Housing for All Act, would help address the shortage of housing that has contributed to an increase in homelessness in recent years, the Senators said. The bill would take a number of steps to address housing, which the senators called an “all-hands-on-deck approach.”
“Housing costs in New Mexico and across the country are out of control,” U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said. “The solution is simple: we need to build and renovate more homes. And we need to provide our community leaders with the financial support necessary to carry out this important work.”
This includes investments in the National Housing Trust Fund to aid the supply of affordable housing, putting more money into the Section 202 Supporting Housing for the Elderly Program, which aids low-income seniors and would fund housing choice vouchers for low-income families, elderly people, veterans and disabled individuals.
Heinrich went on to slam President Donald Trump and his advisor, billionaire CEO Elon Musk, for their priorities in recent months.
“While Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ boys gut housing services that help New Mexicans keep a roof over their head, I’m focused on boosting essential programs that increase the housing stock, lower costs, and help hardworking families get ahead,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján said this would aid those looking for housing.
“As housing programs and services face ongoing attacks and funding cuts, the need to expand affordable housing options has never been greater,” Luján said. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce this legislation to address housing shortages and help end homelessness in New Mexico.”
Advocates and analysts have said cuts to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department by the Trump administration will make it harder for people to afford housing.
Absolutely necessary to prioritise housing for low income residents. I pay 89 percent of my social security income for a one bedroom apartment. Fortunately I also have SNAP or I wouldn’t have food. The next rent increase coming this fall will leave me homeless. I’m sure other elders are in the same position. Billions for nuclear pits on warheads in Los Alamos while citizens are homeless and hungry.
I am on the board of an organization called Rebuilding Together Sandoval County that does exactly the kind of renovations that Senator Heinrich is referring to. We are currently unable to get reimbursed by the USDA on a 2023 grant that is structured with the USDA reimbursing us for project expense. We have incurred over $7,000 in expenses dating to October 2024 that still have not been reimbursed. This has been an issue dating well back into the Biden administration time, so I would not entirely blame this on the Trump administration.
Also, please stop it with the narrative that housing affordability is the primary cause of homelessness. It is obvious that we have rampant drug addiction and mental illness issues that are ravaging the city of Albuquerque. That needs to be addressed at least on an equal footing to housing affordability.