Last checked: November 2026. Benefits Explorer is a directory. We do not provide rent money or decide who gets help, and each program makes its own decisions.
New Mexico's timeline is short: a landlord can go to court after a three-day notice of nonpayment. If you pay within those three days, the landlord cannot evict you for that nonpayment, so the first days after a notice count the most.
Albuquerque residents can seek emergency rent help at the city's Health and Social Service Centers. Santa Fe County renters can call NM Eviction Prevention and Diversion, whose Community Justice Workers help tenants at risk of eviction. For other areas, that group itself tells renters who need rent money to contact 211.
Where to Start in New Mexico
Housing New Mexico
The state housing finance agency, also known as MFA. It lists the Emergency Homeless Assistance Program and Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention among its programs, and it reports administering long-term rental vouchers. Its site gives this main number rather than a rental assistance line, so ask which local provider serves your county.
Visit website · Phone: 505-843-6880 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open
New Mexico Courts HelpLine
Court information for people without a lawyer, in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm. It can point you to the self-help center for your court district. It does not give out rent money.
Visit website · Phone: 855-268-7804 · Accepting applications when last checked
Local Rent Help in New Mexico
City of Albuquerque emergency rental and utility assistance (City of Albuquerque)
Run by the city's Health and Social Service Centers for residents with unpaid rent or utilities who are at risk of eviction or shutoff. Funding is limited. Contact the closest center: John Marshall 505-848-1345, Alamosa 505-836-8800, Dede Feldman Los Griegos 505-761-4050, or Ruth M. Adams East Central 505-767-5700. Or call the city's 311 line at this number. The city sends unincorporated Bernalillo County residents to county housing programs.
Visit website · Phone: 505-768-2000 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open
New Mexico Eviction Prevention and Diversion (Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Taos counties)
Community Justice Workers help tenants at risk of eviction for nonpayment with action plans, informal mediation and limited legal help under attorney oversight. Call or text; Spanish speakers can use 505-216-6505. A 2025 listing says it had rental assistance funds for Santa Fe County only, and none for Taos or Rio Arriba. Its site tells people seeking rent money to contact 211, so ask what is available.
Visit website · Phone: 505-216-6166 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open
Facing Eviction in New Mexico?
The New Mexico Courts say a landlord must give a three-day notice of nonpayment before going to court, citing Section 47-8-33. If you pay within that time, the landlord cannot evict you for nonpayment. The landlord files a Petition by Owner for Restitution, and the papers must be served at least 7 days before the hearing. You may file a written Answer by the summons deadline or the hearing date, whichever comes first, and you must attend the hearing. Read the official guidance
Free or low-cost legal help: New Mexico Legal Aid. Civil legal help, with residential eviction work in its Housing Law group that gives priority to cases involving subsidized housing. Phone intake runs during limited hours, Monday through Thursday, and you can also apply online. It publishes a New Mexico Renters Guide. Visit website · Phone: 1-833-545-4357
This page is general information, not legal advice. Don't ignore a notice or court papers, because eviction deadlines can be short.
More Help in New Mexico
- Housing authorities in New Mexico
- Section 8 houses for rent in New Mexico
- Food pantries in New Mexico
- Food stamp offices in New Mexico
- Free clinics in New Mexico
Want other options? See our full rent assistance guide, including how to spot a scam, or see your options. That form is not an application for rent assistance. If you submit it, Benefits Explorer and its partners may contact you.
New Mexico Rent Assistance Questions
Who helps with rent in Albuquerque?
The city's Health and Social Service Centers run emergency rental and utility assistance for Albuquerque residents, subject to available funds. Call the center closest to you, or 311 at 505-768-2000. Residents outside city limits are sent to Bernalillo County housing programs.
Can I stop a New Mexico eviction by paying within three days?
The New Mexico Courts say that if you pay overdue rent within the three-day notice period, the landlord cannot evict you for nonpayment. A judge may also refuse an eviction if the notice period had not passed. Call the Courts HelpLine at 855-268-7804 if you have questions about your notice.
I got a summons in New Mexico. Do I have to go?
Yes. Both the courts and NM Eviction Prevention and Diversion stress attending your hearing, even if you are still looking for rent money. Call New Mexico Legal Aid at 1-833-545-4357 during intake hours as soon as you can.
Rent Assistance in Nearby States
Most programs only help people who live in their state. If you are moving or live near a state line, you can also check:
- Rent assistance in Arizona
- Rent assistance in Colorado
- Rent assistance in Oklahoma
- Rent assistance in Texas