Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is making another attempt to establish an executive housing office in New Mexico to address issues with homelessness, unaffordable rent, and skyrocketing home prices. The proposed legislation for an “Office of Housing Planning and Production” aims to collect data, set goals, and advise on housing construction. The push comes after a report revealed a 60% increase in median rents and a 70% increase in average home prices in the state between 2017 and 2024. Additionally, homelessness has increased by 87% during that time. The bill also seeks to create a statewide housing strategy and provide technical assistance to agencies and governments. The renewed effort follows the Legislature’s biggest-ever investment in affordable housing, which included funds for affordable housing infrastructure and anti-homelessness initiatives. The governor’s budget this session also includes $100 million to address homelessness and provide down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers. The new director of homelessness initiatives, Taylor Cook, is focusing on homelessness prevention and working with communities throughout the state to address the issue.
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