ABQ Times

Bernalillo County's Housing Department recently organized its first landlord engagement event of the year, drawing more than 100 landlords. The sessions took place on January 23 at the department's location on Wellesley Drive NE, with both morning and evening meetings available.

The attending landlords are participants in either the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program or the Community Connections Supportive Housing program. The former is a federal initiative from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) aimed at assisting low-income families, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities to afford private market housing. The latter is funded by a behavioral health tax to provide supportive housing.

Amanda Colburn, Director of Housing for Bernalillo County, expressed satisfaction with the turnout: “I love that we were able to host 100 landlords,” she said. She noted that attendees ranged from those new to the programs to others who have been involved for over four decades.

During the event, landlords received updates on their responsibilities, including upcoming safety measures set for October and tenant obligations under the housing programs. There was also an emphasis on ongoing county support.

Under HUD's Section 8 program, rent is subsidized based on fair market rent (FMR). In Albuquerque, HUD has set FMR for a one-bedroom apartment at $1,084 monthly. However, Bernalillo County opts to pay landlords up to 111% of this amount, allowing them to collect as much as $1,203 monthly. Tenants contribute 30% of their income towards rent while Section 8 covers the remainder along with utility allowances.

To become a participating landlord in these programs requires no formal registration; rather it involves renting to a qualified Section 8 voucher holder. Currently, approximately 825 landlords are part of this initiative managed by BernCo’s Housing Department which also serves Rio Rancho and Sandoval County.

Colburn highlighted several benefits for landlords: “Guaranteed rents income every month,” she stated. She added that supporting vulnerable community members and receiving financial assistance for tenant-caused damages are additional advantages offered by the county.

Looking ahead, quarterly training events are planned to further strengthen partnerships between the department and local landlords by providing essential education and resources.