Affordable Housing
We're focused on increasing housing supply and promoting access for all. Learn about the Housing Forward ABQ initiative
What is Affordable Housing?
Per the City's 2019 Affordable Housing Implementing Ordinance: Residential housing primarily for households of low and moderate-income. Low and Moderate Income is defined as less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), determined by HUD annually. Subsidized affordable housing developments ensure that households in these income categories pay no more that 30% of their income on housing costs.
2024 Adjusted Income Limits by Household Size (HUD)
| % of AMI | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% of AMI | $18, 150 | $20,750 | $23,350 | $25,900 | $28,000 | $30,050 | $32,150 | $34,200 |
| 50% of AMI | $30,250 | $34,600 | $38,900 | $43,200 | $46,700 | $50,150 | $53,600 | $57,050 |
| 60% of AMI | $36,300 | $41,520 | $46,680 | $51,840 | $56,040 | $60,180 | $64,320 | $68,460 |
| 80% of AMI | $48,400 | $55,300 | $62,200 | $69,100 | $74,650 | $80,200 | $85,700 | $91,250 |
| Area Median Income | $60,500 | $69,200 | $77,800 | $86,400 | $93,400 | $100,300 | $107,200 | $114,100 |
Download a PDF of the 2023 HUD HOME Income and Rent Limits, effective June 15, 2023
Upcoming RFPs for affordable housing:
- July 1, 2024 – $2.7 million available in gap financing for affordable housing.
- July 1, 2024 – $9.4 million available in gap financing for affordable housing.
- September 2024 -- $4.2 million for Senior Housing projects, exact date to come.
- September 2024 – Package of City-owned land and $2.7 million in gap financing to develop affordable housing, exact date to come.
All funding opportunities can be found on the department's RFP page
Know Your Housing Rights
Landlord-Tenant Issues
If you have a legal problem, please contact New Mexico Legal Aid at 1-833-LGL-HELP (1-833-545-4357).
Read more on our Eviction Prevention page.
Fair Housing
Housing discrimination is against the law. If you feel that you have been denied the sale, rent, or financing of a home because of religion, race, color, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability, report it to HUD or your local fair housing center.
- Contact HUD online or call 1-800-669-9777/1-800-927-9275 (TTY)
- For local assistance, visit the Office of Civil Rights for information and to report discrimination.
Source of Income Discrimination
The Albuquerque Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing, including most rentals, based on a person's source of income. This law is now in effect.
Read the Source of Income Discrimination Guidance for Rentals in English and Español
Contact the Office of Civil Rights to learn more
Reports, Plans, and Studies
Plans, amendments, and reports related to spending federal HUD funding are documented in the City's Consolidated Plan, annual Action Plans, and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) report. See the Consolidated Plan and Amendments
Albuquerque Affordable Housing Studies
The City of Albuquerque and Mid-Region Council of Governments recently partnered on a new regional housing study as part of the City’s ongoing commitment to make timely and data-driven decisions to address the current housing crisis affecting all its residents. This report includes data for housing needs at multiple levels – the region, the City of Albuquerque as a whole, and each of the City’s 12 Community Planning Areas.
- Albuquerque Region Housing Needs Assessment (Root Policy Research, 2024)
- Key Findings:
- Overall, there is enough vacant land zoned for residential uses in Albuquerque to meet future housing needs, but almost all of that land is on the West Side.
- If all of that land develops as housing, the jobs/housing balance will worsen, congestion at river crossings will increase, and access to services for West Side residences will be challenging.
- Redevelopment incentives east of the Rio Grande will be needed to build more housing close to job centers and services.
- Although Albuquerque’s population is growing slowly, Albuquerque’s increasing proportion of older adults means more small households that need smaller units or multi-family units with nearby services.
- Wage increases are not keeping up with the cost of housing. All but a few professional occupations are priced out of both the rental and home ownership markets.
- Over half (52%) of all renters are cost burdened because they pay more than 30% of their income on housing.
- Significant subsidies are needed to make housing affordable now and even more so in the future.
- A large portion (41%) of rental housing is older and in need of maintenance.
- The gap for affordable housing available to residents making less than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) is growing, so developing deeply affordable housing is one of the most pressing needs in the city.
- Overall, there is enough vacant land zoned for residential uses in Albuquerque to meet future housing needs, but almost all of that land is on the West Side.
Housing Forward Fund Report
This Report highlights the critical investments made in affordable housing through the Housing Forward Fund.
The $23 million fund comprises $20 million from the gross receipts tax and $3 million in general funding.
Read the full 2025 Housing Forward Fund Report.
- Housing Forward Fund Report (2023)
- Housing Forward Fund Report (2024)
Previous studies:
- Affordable Housing Strategies for 2022-2025
- Albuquerque Affordable Housing and Homelessness Needs Assessment (Urban Institute, 2020)
- Comprehensive Needs Assessment (Office of Equity and Inclusion, 2022)
- Mine the Gap: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in Albuquerque's Affordable Housing Ecosystem (Harvard, 2022)
National news, reports, and trends
- PEW Study on Affordable Housing (2025) New Mexico’s Housing Shortage and Lessons from Policy Outcomes Elsewhere
- The State of the Nation's Housing 2024 (Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2024)
- Can income-restricted ADUs expand the affordable housing stock in Los Angeles? (Brookings, 2024)
- Top 10 trends in Affordable Housing (Building Design and Construction, 2024)
- Urban form’ and the housing crisis: Can streets and buildings make a neighbourhood more affordable? (The Conversation, 2024)
- Can accessory dwelling units in Denver help keep families and communities intact? (The Colorado Sun, 2024)
- U.S. Economic, Housing and Mortgage Market Outlook (Freddie Mac, May 2024)
- Colorado takes a new – and likely more effective – approach to the housing crisis (The Conversation, 2024)
- Sky-High Housing Costs Propel Construction of rental homes (Wall Street Journal, 2024)
- No State Has An Adequate Supply of Affordable Rental Housing for the Lowest-Income Renters (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2024)
- Exploring the Affordable Housing Shortage's Impact on American Workers, Jobs & The Economy (Bipartisan Policy Center, 2024)
Workforce Housing Plan
The City's Workforce Housing Plan (Chapter V of the Consolidated Plan) outlines the city's policies regarding affordable housing activities in Albuquerque. The Plan is implemented using HOME and Community Development Block Grant grants as well as the Housing Trust Fund authorized in the City's Workforce Housing Ordinance.
The Plan's primary goals are to preserve existing and new affordable housing, protect the most vulnerable populations in our community, promote home ownership for those excluded from the market, create housing that is sustainable and affordable, and allocate funding for capacity building and long-term stewardship of affordable housing.
Workforce Housing Trust Funds
Workforce Housing Trust Funds are a permanently dedicated source of revenue used to support the preservation and production of affordable housing. These funds can be leveraged with additional resources, including HOME and Community Development Block Grant, and have a long-term affordability requirement.