Financial Resources

The financial burden on kinship guardians can be overwhelming. Often, kin is placed with guardians due to a crisis, leaving little or no time for the guardians to prepare. Common financial barriers kinship guardians face include unforeseen legal fees, having to buy furniture and other household items for the children’s living space, purchasing clothes for the children, and increases in all areas of daily living expenses (gas, electricity, food, transportation).

Fostering Families is here to help kinship guardians who are struggling financially by providing information and connecting families to local, state, and national services, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women, Infants & Children (WIC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Housing Authority, Income Support Division, Medicaid, Child Support, and Child Care Assistance.

CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This program can be accessed if you and your family are working and/or at school or below 200% of the federal poverty line. If you meet these prerequisites, you may qualify for subsidized child care. The amount varies depending on factors such as location, age of the child, and type of child care requested by the family.

HOMEWISE
Since 1986 Homewise has been helping families plan their current and future home-buying goals. They equip these families with the tools and education to acquire low-cost financing and a high-quality and safe home. This organization aims to help families become successful homeowners so that the neighborhoods and communities can strengthen and grow together.

ALBUQUERQUE HOUSING AUTHORITY 
The Albuquerque Housing Authority uses federal funds to offer housing assistance to low-income Albuquerque residents. They have roughly 950 units throughout Albuquerque that are used as housing for low-income families, the elderly, and disabled individuals. The Albuquerque Housing Authority has made it so that tenants pay 30% of their income towards rent and then subsidize the rest, hoping that this will allow these families to lift themselves out of low-income housing and poverty.

ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK
This is the largest nonprofit organization in New Mexico dedicated to ending hunger through its dedicated food distribution hubs and statewide resources. Founded in 1979 by Reverend Titus Scholl, Roadrunner Food Bank started feeding the hungry with a meager $40,000 in loans, to now operating statewide and feeding roughly 70,000 people per week. This organization can help kinship caregivers by providing food to grandparents or extended family members caring for children. Roadrunner Food Bank recognizes that the number of grandparents raising grandchildren has doubled in the last forty years, leaving these families vulnerable to hunger and poverty.

CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE
The City of Albuquerque has quite a few resources to help low-income and underserved populations. These include TEFAP Food Boxes, Emergency Diapers, Utility and Rental Assistance (based upon available funds), Information & Referrals to other Collaborating Agencies, Meeting Rooms for Neighborhood and Community Groups, Toys for Tots, Health Fairs, and Community Fairs.

YES NEW MEXICO
This resource connects you to programs such as Medicaid (Medical Assistance), SNAP (Food Assistance), TANF (Cash Assistance), and LIHEAP (Energy Assistance). All it takes is going to their website and getting started.

SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program continues the previous federal and state food stamps program, helping low-income individuals and families to pay for food at selected grocery stores. The federal government sets out the guidelines, but once qualified, within 30 days, you can have your benefits sent to your EBT card.

MCKINNEY VENTO PROGRAM
This Albuquerque Public School program was created to help families by helping with enrollment assistance and acquiring school supplies and school uniforms. They also help parents and students find after-school tutoring, preschool, parental support programs, and summer reading and math programs. If you are experiencing temporary or long-term homelessness, this program can help you with referrals to Health Care for the Homeless and obtaining access to the APS Clothing Bank.

TITLE I
Depending on the percentage of economically disadvantaged people at a school, the school might qualify for Title I advantages. If your or your child’s school has title 1 benefits, you can see how they allocate the funds and use your voice to change what you think needs to be changed. These funds are most commonly used to improve the curriculum, improve facilities, and hire more staff.

MESILLA VALLEY PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY 
This program helps low-income and underserved populations to attain affordable housing. They work out of Doña Ana County and Las Cruces and currently work with over 6,000 residents. With their substantial annual operating budget, they can provide hundreds of housing units and 1,627 Housing Choice Vouchers.

WIC
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) works to ensure the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five who might be at risk of malnutrition or might not have the ability to feed themselves or their children properly. They do this by providing foods rich in nutrients to supplement their diets. This program also provides education on healthy eating, starting and maintaining good health habits, and connecting these families with community resources and services to ensure their health and safety.

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is a state-run organization that helps improve the state’s workforce through constant innovation and development. They ensure New Mexico businesses follow fair labor practices and provide workforce protection.

HELP-NM
Provides support to New Mexican individuals and families, connecting them to services including housing, utilities, job connection, food assistance, childcare, early childhood education, resources for victims of domestic violence, substance abuse, or access to quality healthcare.

ALBUQUERQUE SALVATION ARMY
Hunger Relief, Housing & Homelessness Services, Emergency Disaster Relief Services, Christmas Assistance, Youth Camps and Recreation, Elderly Services, and Veterans Affairs Services. 4301 Bryn Mawr Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 | Telephone: 505-881-4292

LAS CRUCES SALVATION ARMY
Services provided: Food Box Program, Rent and Utility Assistance, Emergency Disaster Relief, Family Store, and Teen Activities.

SANTA FE SALVATION ARMY
The Santa Fe Family Services (525 West Alameda) offers a daily free breakfast Mon-Fri (8:00–8:30 am), laundry and showers Mon-Fri (8:30–11:00 am), clothing when available, and a lunch for seniors (55+) on Thursdays (11:00 am–1:00 pm); if seeking food box or financial assistance (e.g. gas or electric bill), call 505-988-8054 for appt. Mon–Wed (11:00 am–4:00 pm) or Thurs (1:00–4:00 pm).

FARMINGTON SALVATION ARMY
Farmington Family Services (319 West Broadway) has a winter shelter for homeless persons during the winter months (best to call first: 505-327-5117).