Government Funding Resources
Government Funding for homeless programs comes from federal, state and local governments in New Mexico. This is a summary of the main sources of funding for homeless assistance programs. Below the descriptions is a list of contact people and internet links for these grant programs.
federal funding resources
1. Emergency Shelter Grants Program (ESG)
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The ESG Program provides funding to states and local governments. In New Mexico some ESG funding goes to Albuquerque where it is administered by the City of Albuquerque, which makes grants within Albuquerque. The rest of the ESG funding is administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, which makes grants throughout the state except for Albuquerque.
ESG funds can be used for operating emergency shelters for the homeless, and for providing essential services to the homeless at shelters or at other locations. ESG funds may also be used for construction and rehabilitation of emergency shelters, but because funding is very limited, new construction and rehabilitation are not high priorities for the use of New Mexico's ESG funds. Grants are generally due in late winter or early spring.
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2. Continuum of Care Programs (CoC)
The Continuum of Care Grants are developed through the year-round continuum of care planning process done by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness and the Albuquerque Homeless Advocacy Coalition. There are two programs under the Continuum of Care which are used in New Mexico: Grant proposals are due in the spring but require more lead time because of the community process involved in applying. The two programs are:
a. Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
The SHP provides funding for acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, leasing, operations, and supportive services for either transitional housing or permanent supportive housing. The emphasis in recent years by the federal government is on acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing. Albuquerque projects would apply for funding through the Homeless Advocacy Coalition, and projects in the rest of the state would apply through the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.
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b. Shelter Plus Care Program (S+C)
The S+C program provides housing vouchers for disabled homeless people that they can use to rent housing on the rental market. S+C requires that the applicant be a unit of government or a public housing authority, though the actual running of the program can be subcontracted to a nonprofit organization. The S+C program requires a match of services that is equal in value to the value of the housing vouchers.
state funding resources
1. State Homeless Program
The State Homeless Program is administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority and can be used for operation of homeless shelters, transitional and permanent housing, and for services for the homeless. The grants are made available by MFA near the beginning of each year (January or February) and are part of a combined application with the ESG and the tenant based rental assistance.
2. State Homeless Meals Program
The Homeless Meals funding is administered by the New Mexico Human Services Department. Funds may be used to provide meals for the homeless at a shelter or other setting. Funds are made available in the spring or summer.
other funding for aquisition, construction, & rehabilitation
1. HOME Program
HOME is federal funding administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority for the state and separately by the City of Albuquerque, and the City of Las Cruces. HOME funds can be used to finance the acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of transitional housing or permanent supportive housing for the homeless. Tenant Based Rental Assistance is part of the HOME program that can be used for rent for people leaving homelessness. The MFA funds may be applied for year round.
2. Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Affordable Housing Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas can be used to fund acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of transitional housing or permanent supportive housing for the homeless. This is not a government agency, but they seem to like to match government grants. Grant requests are due either in April or in October.
3. Land Title Trust Fund
The land Title Trust Fund is administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance authority and can be used to fund acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of transitional housing or permanent supportive housing for the homeless. Grant requests are considered quarterly.
4. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
CDBG provides flexible funding for community projects. CDBG is administered by the Department of Finance and Administration and by the Cities of Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Farmington. CDBG can be used to fund acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of transitional housing or permanent supportive housing for the homeless. Grant requests to the state are due in January. Cities operate on their own timetable.
5. Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities
The 811 program is administered directly by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and can be used to fund acquisition, rehabilitation and construction and operation housing for people with disabilities including the homeless. The grant is generally due in late spring or early summer.