Taos Housing Partnership announces adviser service, classes and small development

Lisa O’Brien, executive director of Taos Housing Partnership, used the council’s citizens forum at the Feb. 24 meeting to outline a slate of local housing services and a small development partnership.

O’Brien said the partnership will hold an open house at its Sentinel Bank Plaza office on Wednesday, March 11, and start offering in‑office home‑purchase adviser hours on March 13 and March 27 that community members can sign up for. She also announced a full‑day home buyer education class on Saturday, March 28 (9 a.m.–3 p.m.), likely capped near 18–20 participants, and a forthcoming financial fitness class. “We do have a home purchase adviser that will now start working out of the Taos Housing Partnership office,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said Taos Housing Partnership is a lead partner on a planned small development of four homes funded in part by Housing New Mexico; the partnership expects to hold the homes as an asset for a 30‑year period and to provide closing‑cost assistance when available. She told council the development is not ready for public announcement because contracts are pending and staff are awaiting signatures, but that she would return with details once agreements are finalized.

Context and participation: O’Brien said the partnership has run four home buyer education classes in its roughly 18 months of operations and that about 60 people have completed the classes; some participants proceeded to work with regional home‑purchase advisers. The organization also plans a six‑month speaker series and will post materials and recorded sessions for community viewing.

Next steps: O’Brien said registration information will be posted and staff will coordinate with council staff for future presentations; she invited council and residents to the March 11 open house and encouraged community members to contact the partnership for program information.