ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – More Albuquerque families will have an opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness thanks to the Housing New Mexico Board of Directors approving an award of $732,939 to Saranam to develop transitional housing for families. The board approved the funding award to the nonprofit from the Housing Innovation Program at its Dec. 18 meeting.
Saranam offers a two-year program that provides housing, food, education and training to help individuals break the cycle of generational homelessness and achieve long-term stability and independence. The funding will support the addition of 13 units, a family community center, a playground and community gardens to its west-side campus. Phase 1 – consisting of 10 units – was completed in October on the west-side campus, and upon completion of Phase 2, there will be a total of 23 units.
“Saranam thanks the MFA (Housing New Mexico) for this incredible support,” said Tracy Weaver, Saranam Executive Director. “With this impactful gift we are able to complete our new campus build that will house up to 23 families at a time, more than doubling our capacity. At Saranam, families are empowered to end both their homelessness and poverty through housing, education and supportive community. The housing this funding provides is the first step toward stability for families in their journeys of transforming their lives for generations.”
The Housing Innovation Program was created in 2023 as a resource to address housing needs that are not currently being served through existing Housing New Mexico programs and as an opportunity for eligible applicants to fund community tailored housing solutions.
“The team at Saranam has accomplished so much in 20 years as far as providing unhoused families experiencing poverty with safe, transitional housing, and I know this funding will impact even more families in the future,” said Isidoro Hernandez, Housing New Mexico Executive Director/CEO. “Fortunately, through our Housing Innovation Program, we have the flexibility to fulfill funding requests such as this request from Saranam and ultimately work toward the collective goal of ending homelessness.”
Visit the Housing New Mexico Website to learn more about the Housing Innovation Program, including applicant eligibility and eligible funding activities.
Housing New Mexico, otherwise known as New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA), was created in 1975 by the New Mexico State Legislature to provide quality affordable housing opportunities for all New Mexico residents. As the state’s housing authority, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority/Housing New Mexico uses housing bonds, tax credits and other federal, state and private resources to fund more than 40 housing programs. In addition to funding the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing and rental properties, Housing New Mexico’s programs include down payment assistance, homelessness prevention and emergency shelter, weatherization services, rental assistance and housing for people with special needs which have provided over 500,000 families with affordable housing and services since its inception.
To learn more about Housing New Mexico, visit www.housingnm.org