TIERRA DEL SOL HOUSING CORPORATION: ITS HISTORY
“. . . the general welfare and security of the nation and the health and living standards of its people require . . . the realization . . . of the goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family . . .”
[From the Housing Act of 1949]
The history of Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation begins with the purpose of helping rural New Mexicans achieve “the goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment.”
The history of Tierra del Sol encompasses the history of an idea, a dream and the goal of better housing.
It is a history of dedicated people who found the organization, a minister, a county commissioner, a group of farm workers and rural families.
It is a history of triumphs, difficult times, and most important it a history of lasting achievements in making possible affordable decent housing to hundreds of New Mexico farm workers, the working poor and countless others.
Six months after it was incorporated in April 1973, in a bleak cotton field, with the early autumn wind chilling about 25 spectators who had gathered for the ribbon cutting, Tierra del Sol embarked on its
first large scale housing development at Alto de Las Flores, north of the community of San Miguel,
New Mexico. Already 12 homes had been built in Mesilla, New Mexico and it had eight units under construction in Mesquite, New Mexico. This large scale housing development during its formative period was to help characterize Tierra del Sol as a dynamic organization fulfilling the goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for its constituents.
Its initial efforts to bring the American Dream to rural New Mexicans was through a self help housing program funded by the Farmers Home Administration. Today, Tierra del Sol continues in its rich-laden history of self help housing in rural Dona Ana County and in urban settings such as in the City of Las Cruces, New Mexico. It housing services has greatly expanded from its early years and today, Tierra del Sol is a leading producer of affordable housing in New Mexico. It is recognized as a leading producer of both single family and multifamily housing in the southwest region of the United States. Its success is based on collaborations and joint partnerships with both private and public funding providers.
Tierra del Sol’s long line of achievements has significantly improved the quality of life of New Mexicans. Solutions to the housing needs of the working poor, farm workers, first time homebuyers, the elderly and the disabled have been found by Tierra del Sol.
From self-help housing, rural farm labor rental housing, senior congregate housing, to supportive housing for the elderly and the disabled, to LIHTC limited partnership owned mixed housing, to affordable homeownership in urban neighborhoods, major subdivision and real estate developments, Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation has brought to successful fruition the idea, fulfilled the dream and achieved the goal that are encompassed in its formation in 1973.
MISSION STATEMENT
“Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation is a regional housing community development corporation whose purpose is to improve the quality of life and economic conditions of low income persons residing in distressed and underserved communities by providing affordable housing and community development through construction activities, lending, training and employment opportunities.”
