Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Seeks Staff for New “Office of Housing”
On February 8, 2024, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, joined by Sen. Michael Padilla and housing policy adviser Daniel Werwath, announced her push for a new “Office of Housing” aimed at addressing statewide housing issues. The governor’s office is now hiring for at least two positions within this newly established office.
New Positions in the Office of Housing
Despite her efforts during the 2024 legislative session to create a formal office with broader authority, Lujan Grisham’s proposal faced resistance from lawmakers. However, she succeeded in securing $2 million to fund positions within her office to focus on housing initiatives over the next two years.
The Office of Housing will include a new “Director of Statewide Homelessness Initiatives,” responsible for coordinating and strategizing responses to the state’s growing homelessness issue. This role offers a salary ranging from $75,000 to $130,000.
Additionally, the office is hiring for another position with a general job listing targeting candidates with experience in housing development, programs, policy, regulatory frameworks, and data analysis. The salary for this role ranges from $50,000 to $120,000.
Recent State Investments in Housing
The creation of the Office of Housing follows a significant investment by the Legislature aimed at boosting home building in New Mexico. The state has allocated $125 million for a loan program to support affordable housing infrastructure and workforce housing development. Additionally, $50 million has been earmarked for the New Mexico Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and $20 million is designated for homelessness initiatives.
The new office aims to enhance the availability and affordability of housing throughout the state. According to Daniel Werwath, who was appointed in January to lead the office, the goal is to bring together talented and innovative individuals to develop effective strategies for tackling New Mexico’s housing crisis.
“The housing landscape has changed significantly in recent years, and it’s crucial to adopt new models and increase coordination,” Werwath said. “The Governor is forming an experienced team with diverse expertise to address the unprecedented housing challenges facing New Mexico.”
Lujan Grisham’s proposal to create the Office of Housing and grant it additional authority, including a seat on the board of Housing New Mexico (formerly the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority), faced pushback from some legislators and officials. Critics argued that the new office could be redundant and might interfere with existing state entities. Despite these challenges, the Governor made a rare personal appeal in front of a legislative committee to advance her bill.
