Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque | City of Albuquerque
Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque | City of Albuquerque
The Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative (MRGHC) recently held its first meeting, marking an important step in addressing the pressing need for affordable housing in the region. The collaborative, established through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the city and county, aims to tackle the housing crisis by implementing strategic initiatives outlined in the agreement.
The MRGHC, comprised of members including Talia Freedman, Dan Majewski, Serge Martinez, and Lawrence Rael, convened on Thursday, March 28th at the Mid Region Council of Governments to kick off their efforts. One key goal of the collaborative is to select a fifth member to further enhance their capabilities in addressing the housing challenges faced by the community.
Commission Chair Barbara Baca expressed optimism about the collaborative's potential impact, stating, "This collaborative took many months to come together and I am excited about the work of the members that will result in tangible solutions to the housing crises we are currently facing." The collaborative's approach involves surveying existing affordable housing locations, identifying service gaps, acquiring land for future projects, renovating buildings for housing, and fostering relationships with developers to spur private development.
City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn highlighted the innovative nature of the MRGHC, noting, "The MRGHC is a unique approach to providing badly needed affordable housing that will allow nimble responses to development needs." Fiebelkorn emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing housing challenges and expressed eagerness to witness the positive outcomes of the MRGHC's initiatives.
The MRGHC represents a promising step towards combatting the affordable housing crisis in the Middle Rio Grande region. Through cooperation, strategic planning, and leveraging of resources, the collaborative aims to make significant progress in meeting the housing needs of the community and accessing additional funding sources to support affordable housing projects.
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