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Public Housing
The Taos County Housing Authority’s 169 housing units were constructed in 1964 and 1977-1978 under the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded program known as Operation Breakthrough. Conceived as a catalyst for developing new technologies that could readily be applied to affordable housing. Operation Breakthrough was responsible for hundreds of housing projects throughout the U.S.
In Taos County, Operation Breakthrough was responsible for housing developments in Taos, Questa and Peñasco consisting of 34, 26 and 24 housing units respectively for a total of 86 units for Taos County.
In August 2003, through a Joint Powers Agreement Between Town of Taos and Taos County, Taos County accepted the transfer of existing Town of Taos Housing properties acquiring 83 housing units located within the Town of Taos.
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Contact
Carmella Martinez
Executive Director
525 Ranchitos Road, Unit 962
4239 NDCBU
Taos, NM 87571
Ph: (575) 758-3930
Ph: (575) 758-2460
Fax: (575) 751-1175
Hours
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed to Public 11:45 and 4:30
Monday – Friday
Closed for Lunch
Staff Directory
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Additionally, a community/office building was constructed in the Taos site, and a small office building was constructed in the Questa site. In the Peñasco site, one of the housing units was modified slightly to provide for a maintenance/storage room. Later on, it was decided, that there was not a need for an office in Questa site, and was converted into an efficiency unit. Over the years the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development mandated that five- percent Low Public Housing units must comply with ADA requirements. A four-bedroom unit in the Taos Site was converted to two one-bedroom ADA units, thereby increasing the housing stock to 86 units. There are 10 elderly housing units, located in Zia Circle site.
SECTION 8 Existing Housing
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 enacted the Section 8 Program. This legislation signaled a significant shift in the federal housing strategy from locally owned public housing to tenant based assistance.The Section 8 Existing Housing Program was established in 1977 to provide tenant-based subsidies. Under this program, sometimes called the “finders keepers” or “certificate” program, (today known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program) where families select their own housing, and the subsidy follows the family when the family moves. Today payments are made directly to the Landlords and not the tenant.
Qualifying for Housing Assistance:
Family must meet Income Limit Guidelines set forth by HUD, submit application and provide proper documentation requested by Housing Staff. Family pays 30% of Total Family Gross Income towards the rent and is applicable to both programs.
Authority operates under the direction of the U.S. Dept. of HUD and Taos County Housing Authority Board appointed by Taos County Board of Commissioners. |