Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced the relocation of the Office of Housing from the Governor's Office to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). This decision aims to establish a more direct connection between job creation and housing strategies, thereby enhancing accountability.
Expressing the necessity behind this move, Gov. Lujan Grisham stated, "New Mexico has devoted a significant amount of money to solving its housing challenges, and it is essential that this investment leads to tangible progress as soon as possible. This move will ensure that the Office of Housing has the resources it needs to put these dollars to use solving our state's housing shortage as we continue pursuing legislation to make the state's housing and homelessness initiatives permanent."
The Office of Housing, which comprises four positions, is tasked with developing strategies to tackle the housing shortage and homelessness in New Mexico. It will work alongside the Department of Finance and Administration to manage the spending of state housing appropriations.
Over the next few months, the Office of Housing team will put forward recommendations regarding where the state's housing and homelessness operations should be permanently located.
Sarita Nair, NMDWS Cabinet Secretary, noted, "Across the state, businesses, job seekers, and our own staff tell us that one of New Mexico's biggest workforce challenges is the housing shortage. Bringing the Office of Housing together with the Department of Workforce Solutions will enable strong collaboration and accountability. We will leverage our deep connections to communities from Farmington to Hobbs to ensure that the shared vision of rapid and efficient housing expansion becomes a reality."
The fiscal year 2026 state budget has designated $110 million to support various housing and related needs, including affordable housing and transitional housing. There are additional allocations, including $2 million for housing assistance personnel and programs, $2 million for consulting and strategic planning for innovative models to end homelessness, and $5 million for grants to local governments for housing encampment response and other related actions.
