Get Rental Assistance in Albuquerque – Apply Today

ALBUQUERQUE HAS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE TENANTS

Residents of Bernalillo County who have been impacted by difficult financial times will benefit from a rental assistance grant for $5 million that has been awarded to the county by the United States Department of Treasury.

The Bern County Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program is going to be the conduit through which the prize money will be dispersed. Through this initiative, the county will offer one-time emergency help to Bernalillo County households that are struggling financially as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation. This aid will cover the cost of rent and utilities.

As a direct consequence of this, the award is restricted to being made available to qualified tenants who live inside the county but outside of the Tribal Lands and the city limits of Albuquerque. Before applying, potential applicants can check to determine if they live in an area that is considered to be outside of the City of Albuquerque by using the locating map that has been supplied. A concise walkthrough of how to utilize the map is provided in the video which can be found here.

Residents of Bernalillo County who live beyond the city limits of Albuquerque now can petition for three months of upcoming rent in addition to any past-due arrears that may be owed on their rental payments. The amount of relief provided has also been increased. The applicants will only be considered for financial assistance for 18 months, which is currently being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. This gift does not cover the monthly payments on a mortgage or the utilities that go along with it.

On Monday, March 22, 2021, at 8:00 a.m., the start of the online application procedure will take place. The sequence in which the applications are received for consideration shall be adhered to. To access the web application, please click on the URL provided in this sentence.

There is also the possibility of printing out applications and sending them by hand to Bernalillo County. If you decide to go with this alternative, you will need to print out your application, fill it out, and either hand it over in person or mail it to the Bernalillo County Treasurer’s Tax Payment drop box in the downtown area, which is located at the intersection of the Fifth and Marquette NW. You can also pick up a hard copy at any of the community centers that are located across Bernalillo County. You can find a list of the community centers in the county right here. The public is welcome to visit Bernalillo County community centers from Monday through Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Once completed, paper applications, along with copies of the necessary documentation, must be delivered to the drop-box located at Fifth and Marquette NW in the downtown area of Bernalillo County Treasurer’s Office for Tax Payments.

Please make sure to address your application to:

Bernalillo County
Attn: Economic Development
C/O Sulema Lenz
Alvarado Square
415 Silver NW
8th Floor, County Manager’s Office
Albuquerque, NM 87102

The following criteria must be met by applicants:

• You need to be a resident of Bernalillo County, which is located outside the city limits of Albuquerque.

• Have experienced a decrease in income due to tough times that have made it difficult or impossible to pay rent;

• You need to provide evidence proving that the current total gross household income of the household is less than 80 percent of the median income for families.

• Be currently enrolled in a lease agreement and not receiving assistance from any other federally subsidized rental assistance programs (such as Section 8 or project-based voucher assistance, a housing choice voucher, or public housing);

• You can’t be enrolled in school full-time while having someone else pay your rent.

Bernalillo County Average Median Income:

If you are requesting assistance through this program, please be sure to provide the necessary documentation:
• Identification (one of the following options is acceptable):

1. A copy of the photo identity issued to you by the government;
2. Documentation confirming one’s status as a permanent resident;
3. A certificate of birth or a passport.

• The current lease or pages of the current lease that specify the address of the dwelling, the amount of the lease rent, the term of the lease, or whether the lease is month-to-month. Both the applicant and the landlord are required to sign the document.
• Proof that one or more members of the applicant’s household either qualified for unemployment benefits or (ii) experienced a drop in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, either directly or indirectly. This can be done in one of two ways: I either qualified for unemployment benefits or (ii) experienced a drop in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship.

1. If the applicant is requesting this determination under section I, then the applicant is required to produce either a written attestation signed by the applicant or other appropriate documents regarding the household member’s eligibility for unemployment benefits. If the applicant is applying for this determination under section II, then the applicant is not required to produce any documentation.
2. If the application is seeking this determination under section (ii), then the federal guidelines require the applicant to present a signed written attestation that one or more members of the household meet these criteria. This requirement applies only if the application is seeking this determination under section (ii).

• Documentation indicating that one or more members of the family are at risk of becoming homeless or experiencing housing insecurity, which may include the following:

1. A notice regarding overdue payments for rent or utilities, as well as a notice of eviction,
2. Confirmation in writing that the living conditions are either hazardous or unhealthy, or
3. Attestation in writing or other forms of risk evidence

• Proof of Income, which must include a written certification of the applicant’s income and may include documentation such as:

1. W2 forms
2. Financial Reports and Statements
3. Pay stubs that indicate a decrease in the number of hours worked or revenues;
4. A letter from the employer announcing a decrease in working hours or wages;
5. The document describes in full the benefits available to those who are unemployed in the state of New Mexico.

Download the following RENT Program Documents:

• BernCo Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program Application
• Zero Income Certification
• Program FAQs
• Certification of Verbal Lease
• Landlord Verification

Inquiries should be directed to BerncoRent@bernco.gov or (505) 468-1279.

If you are a Bernalillo County resident who lives in the City of Albuquerque, please click on the link provided below to learn more about the City of Albuquerque’s Rental, Utility, and Evacuation Protection help programs.
For further information, dial 311 or visit the City of Albuquerque’s Rental and Utility Assistance website.

Residents of Bernalillo County who require assistance with their mortgage payments may access the COVID-19 Housing Cost Assistance Program sponsored by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority by clicking on the link provided below.

Housing Assistance Is Available Through the NMFA Covid-10 Program

Denise M

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Denise Madison, age 34, is an expert in housing policy and rental assistance. Denise earned her Master’s in Public Administration from McGill University, focusing her thesis on the effectiveness of rental assistance programs in major Canadian cities. After graduation, she worked with the Canadian government before transitioning to a consulting role in the United States, aiding in the enhancement of federal housing policies and programs. Denise is known for her practical workshops and seminars aimed at landlords and tenants, fostering better understanding and compliance with housing laws. When not at work, Denise cherishes time with her husband and their three young children, exploring the outdoors and teaching them about the importance of community involvement.