ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Biden administration awarded $3.6 billion to help fund homelessness assistance programs across the country. 

“We know that homelessness is a major issue, not just in New Mexico, but across the country,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez. 

At least 20,000 New Mexicans experience homelessness in a year. 

New Mexico received more than $16 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Program, which will go towards 28 homelessness programs in the state. 

“It provides money across the state, not just in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. But also in San Juan, in the southern part of the state, and San Juan County. Across the state, needed funds to these programs that are doing a great job,” said Leger Fernandez.

Leger Fernandez says getting this money for New Mexico took some work. The City of Albuquerque alone received more than $3 million.

Organizations like Youth Shelter and Family Services, Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness received just over $1 million. 

“Each of these programs is not looking at the problem of homelessness as isolated, but recognizing that there are many areas that need to be addressed in order to break the cycle of homelessness,” said Leger Fernandez. 

The $3.6 billion is the largest, amount the Continuum of Care Program has awarded to communities in its history.