State offers home rehab services here

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority is offering direct home rehabilitation services in eight counties, including Quay County, that do not have a service provider for its Home Rehabilitation Program.

The authority's program provides repairs to bring homes up to code, makes essential improvements that are non-luxury in nature, including roof and mobile home replacement, and performs accessibility modifications to homeowners who lack the resources to do so.

The authority contracts with six service providers that administer home rehabilitation services in all but eight counties. Through its Home Improvement Program, MFA will serve residents in Guadalupe, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Rio Arriba, Quay, San Juan and Union counties. These are the eight counties that lack a service provider.

"Because it has historically been challenging to identify a home rehabilitation service provider in certain counties, MFA's board of directors granted approval for us to provide services directly," said Donna Maestas-De Vries, MFA chief housing officer.

"Our team saw a need, and we are excited that we are about to address that need through this program."

In 2023, the authority provided over $2.2 million in funding to rehabilitate 26 homes in the state.

The Home Improvement Program allows for repair, reconstruction and rehabilitation of homes occupied by eligible income-qualified homeowners. These improvements may include but are not limited to:

- Making energy-saving conservation improvements

- Eliminating health and safety hazards

- Enhancing accessibility for disabled or elderly persons

- Structural alterations and reconstruction

- Repair or replacement of major housing systems

- Adding or replacing roofing

- Reconditioning plumbing

- Installing or replacing a septic system

- Mobile home improvements or replacement

From Feb. 1 to Feb. 29, the authority will accept applications from qualified individuals whose homes need rehabilitation.

Household income must not exceed 80% of the area median income adjusted for location and household size. In Quay County, the limit would be a income of $51,650 for a four-person household.

For more information about the Home Improvement Program and to access the application or to view income limits per county, go to housingnm.org/home-rehabilitation-and-weatherization/home-rehabilitation-program

The services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis for clients who complete an application during the period.

For questions, contact MFA Home Rehabilitation Programs supervisor Gina Bell by email at [email protected] or by calling (505) 767-2274.