City Investing $3.8 Million in Affordable Housing | City of Santa Fe

City Investing $3.8 Million in Affordable Housing

30 Jun, 2022

SANTA FE, June 30, 2022 — For the third consecutive year the City has committed at least $3 million into the Affordable Housing fund. This Fiscal Year the City of Santa Fe is investing $3,843,662 in affordable housing. Last night the Governing Body approved $3,068,162 of funding, and City Manager John Blair will approve an additional $775,500 in contracts.

The combined economic impact of these contracts because of matching requirements for awardees is estimated to total nearly $18 million: $2.1 million for rental assistance; $12.6 million for mortgage assistance; $880,000 for public services; and $2.4 million for rehabilitation. 

Mayor Alan Webber says: “Affordable housing is our highest priority. It’s our greatest need and it’s our greatest focus. We’re using every resource we have to help people in Santa Fe get the housing they need. That’s our commitment.”

Alexandra Ladd, Director of the Office of Affordable Housing, says: “These funding contracts are truly transformational for the folks who benefit from financial assistance or live in homes subsidized through these funds. Without these contracts, the City would be so much less effective in reaching the community and ensuring that residents of all incomes have housing opportunities. It is always my great privilege to work with these providers to administer these funds.”

The Governing Body approved these contracts:

  • $250,000 for the Santa Fe Suites rental subsidy program through St. Elizabeth Shelter;
  • $400,000 for down payment assistance through Homewise;
  • $250,000 for the Rental Assistance Fund through Life Link;
  • $225,000 for homeless early intervention through the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness;
  • $500,000 for down payment assistance through The Santa Fe Community Housing Trust;
  • $353,162 for Consuelo’s Place shelter through the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness ;
  • $1,095,000 for the creation of 53 units of affordable housing at the former Lamplighter Inn through Bella Luz LLP.

Contracts under $200,000 may be approved by the City Manager. Among the noteworthy contacts in this category are:

  • $100,000 for the Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity Home Repair Program;
  • $35,000 for the Interfaith Shelter Women’s Safe Haven program;
  • $35,000 for the SFPS Adelante Elementary School Liaison program;
  • $20,000 for Youth Shelters and Family Services for transitional living and outreach for at-risk and homeless youth.

Eligible uses of the funds are restricted to the costs of acquisition, development, construction, renovation or conversion, financing, operation or owning affordable housing or infrastructure.

The funds are administered by the Office of Affordable Housing and come from the city’s federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). They support the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable housing in Santa Fe. The Community Development Commission (CDC), chaired by Councilwoman Renee Villarreal, reviewed the applications, heard applicant presentations, and made funding recommendations to the Governing Body.

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