Affordable Housing in Albuquerque, NM

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County — not generic Section 8 advice. AHA uses brief lottery-style openings (its HCV list opened and closed on the same day in March 2026), but the City of Albuquerque has invested $21.6 million in Emergency Rental Assistance with applications open, and operates the Westside Emergency Housing Center for shelter. New Mexico's tenant law follows the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act. The named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Albuquerque

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) — Albuquerque's largest emergency shelter, operated by the City of Albuquerque. Accepts walk-ins and transports from downtown. Reservations and information through cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness
• Joy Junction — large emergency shelter and family services campus on the south side. joyjunction.org
• Steelbridge Albuquerque — emergency shelter and recovery programs (formerly Albuquerque Rescue Mission)
• Heading Home — rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families. headinghomenm.org
• Salvation Army Albuquerque Corps — emergency shelter and case management
• Saranam — transitional housing and education for families with children experiencing homelessness
• New Day Youth and Family Services — emergency shelter and services for youth (12–17) and young adults
• DV Resource Center (DVRC) — domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis line: (505) 248-3165. Bilingual advocates
• Albuquerque Coordinated Entry System (CES) — single intake operated through the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness and partner agencies. Call 211
• 211 New Mexico — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Albuquerque: AHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Albuquerque are administered by the Albuquerque Housing Authority (AHA). Current status (checked September 9, 2026):

• The AHA HCV waitlist is closed as of September 9, 2026. AHA uses brief, lottery-style openings — the most recent opened and closed on March 16, 2026. Watch abqha.org/wait-list and sign up for notifications when AHA accepts applications
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) waitlists at specific AHA-affiliated properties may be open. abqha.org/pbv
• Public Housing through AHA — separate program with site-specific waitlists for AHA-owned communities
• Other special programs: HUD-VASH for veterans, Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities — separate referral processes
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Bernalillo County Housing Department, Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority, Rio Rancho, and the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA, statewide) run separate lists
• Status check: call AHA at (505) 764-3920 if you've already applied and need to verify your position on the list. Sign up for waitlist notifications at abqha.org/wait-list

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Albuquerque (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local programs currently operating in Albuquerque. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• City of Albuquerque Emergency Rental Assistance ($21.6 million) — the City of Albuquerque announced applications open for $21.6 million in Emergency Rental Assistance. This is one of the largest single-city ERA pools currently active in the Southwest. This is your strongest first call. cabq.gov/help/rental-assistance
• City of Albuquerque Eviction Prevention — central hub for eviction prevention services, including referrals to legal help and emergency funds. cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness/housing/eviction-prevention
• Bernalillo County Division of Health and Social Services — emergency rental and utility assistance for residents at risk of eviction or utility shutoff
• New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) — free legal representation for low-income tenants facing eviction. newmexicolegalaid.org
• Catholic Charities of Central New Mexico — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services. Spanish-language services available
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Albuquerque — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Salvation Army Albuquerque Corps — eviction prevention and utility assistance
• HopeWorks — comprehensive day services for adults experiencing homelessness, including housing case management
• HEART (Heading Home Encampment Action Resource Team) — outreach to people in encampments, connecting them to shelter and housing
• Albuquerque Public Library — Social Services Resource Guide — librarians maintain an updated guide to local housing and social services. abqlibrary.org/socialservices/housing

The New Mexico state ERA has ended

The New Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program officially closed on June 30, 2023 — all federal pandemic funds are spent. The City of Albuquerque's $21.6M ERA program continues with local funding and is your main active rental assistance path. Don't waste time on closed state portals from 2021–2023.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

New Mexico's LIHEAP is administered by the Income Support Division of the New Mexico Human Services Department. Apply through your local ISD office or by calling 211. PNM and other utilities also offer arrearage management programs.

Tenant Rights in New Mexico

New Mexico's Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act (UORRA, NMSA 47-8) governs landlord-tenant relationships. It's moderate compared to the most landlord-friendly states, with some specific protections:

• No statewide source-of-income protection: New Mexico does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. Albuquerque does not currently have a citywide source-of-income protection ordinance. Finding a landlord who already accepts vouchers is part of the work — AHA can provide a list of participating landlords
• 3-day notice to pay or vacate for nonpayment (NMSA §47-8-33). New Mexico's eviction process moves fairly quickly
• 7-day notice for repeated lease violations within 6 months (NMSA §47-8-33)
• Notice to end month-to-month: 30 days from either party for monthly tenancies; 7 days for weekly tenancies (NMSA §47-8-37)
• Security deposit cap: for leases under 1 year, the deposit is capped at 1 month's rent (NMSA §47-8-18). For leases of 1 year or more, the landlord may require a larger deposit but must pay interest if it exceeds 1 month's rent. Return within 30 days of move-out with itemized deductions
• Warranty of habitability: NMSA §47-8-20 requires landlords to maintain the dwelling in habitable condition. These obligations cannot be waived by lease provisions
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal under NMSA §47-8-39 — landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who exercise legal rights, file complaints, or join tenant organizations
• Self-help eviction is illegal: landlords cannot lock you out, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings. They must use the Metropolitan Court process
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal law and the New Mexico Human Rights Act. The City of Albuquerque Office of Civil Rights handles local intakes

For free legal help: New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) represents low-income tenants in eviction defense. For state-level details, see our New Mexico housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Albuquerque

• Public housing: AHA owns and manages public-housing communities across Albuquerque. Application is separate from Section 8; check site-specific lists at abqha.org
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): Albuquerque has substantial LIHTC inventory, with several senior-restricted properties. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Bernalillo County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• City of Albuquerque Workforce Housing Trust Fund — local funding for affordable housing development. New income-restricted apartments come online each year
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Albuquerque-area veterans are referred through the New Mexico VA Health Care System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. Access via 211 or Coordinated Entry
• New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) programs — first-time homebuyer assistance, FirstHome and HomeNow programs, and statewide affordable housing development. housingnm.org
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — United South Broadway Corporation and YWCA Middle Rio Grande cover Albuquerque

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

Your strongest first call in Albuquerque is the City's $21.6 million Emergency Rental Assistance program — apply at cabq.gov/help/rental-assistance. Sign up for AHA waitlist notifications at abqha.org/wait-list so you don't miss the next lottery-style opening. If you got a 3-day notice, contact New Mexico Legal Aid immediately.