MHP Connect

New Resources for Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing

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Created: Tuesday, 09 August 2016 06:22

Written by Sarah Berke

Faced with rising operational costs in Minnesota and nationwide, it’s becoming more and more challenging to keep affordable housing affordable. A new joint program from Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy aims to subtract some of those expenses through energy-efficiency upgrades — with little sweat for the property owner and potential savings for tenants.

With building technology changing fast, many apartments built just 10 or 15 years ago don’t incorporate today’s leading approaches to reducing electric and gas usage. But affordable housing owners often lack access to expert analysis and data about the value of potential energy-efficiency technology, and without new funding for capital improvements, it can be difficult for affordable housing owners to make the decision to invest.

The Minnesota Multifamily Affordable Housing Energy Network (MMAHEN) is working to change that.

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MN Housing board update: Agency discusses tax credits, Trust Fund and more

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Created: Monday, 01 August 2016 12:07

Written by Carolyn Szczepanski

During its July meeting, the board of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency discussed the review of comments on its Affordable Housing Plan, increased demand for housing tax credits, the outcomes of the Agency's Homeowner Capacity Initiative, and the use of Housing Trust Fund proceeds.

Affordable Housing Plan

In her introductory remarks, commissioner Mary Tingerthal asked that board members be prepared for a possible Program committee meeting in September to review comments on the Agency’s Affordable Housing Plan (AHP). The AHP is the Agency’s annual program spending plan. Tingerthal said that a draft of the plan will be available in mid-August. The public comment period on the draft plan will continue until August 26 and the board will be asked to adopt the final plan at its September 22 meeting.

Read more: MN Housing board update: Agency discusses tax credits, Trust Fund and more

Updating the Fair Housing Plan for the Twin Cities Region

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Created: Thursday, 21 July 2016 11:53

Written by Carolyn Szczepanski

When it comes to regional planning for fair housing, the Twin Cities could soon be a model for the rest of the nation.

In May, a group of government officials and community leaders started a year-long process to more deeply investigate the barriers to fair housing faced by communities of color and rewrite a key document that informs how federal dollars flow into the Twin Cities region.

Precipitated by a legal complaint to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) brought by several community groups, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul joined by other local government grantees of HUD agreed to go back to the table — a new table shared with representatives of communities of color — and dig deeper into its Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.

"Families deserve real housing choice and increased opportunity to move ahead," Gustavo Velasquez, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity said in a May statement. "These agreements place Minneapolis and St. Paul at the forefront of city and regional planning that incorporates fair housing as one of its stated goals.”

How will that happen? Who’s involved? What’s the plan? MHP was tapped by HUD as the facilitator of the process — one that is complicated and challenging, but also rich with authentic dialogue and community engagement that aims to get at the root of housing inequity in the region.

Here’s the who, what, when, where and why of this important process.

Read more: Updating the Fair Housing Plan for the Twin Cities Region

State Fund Helps Thousands Maintain Housing while in Mental Health Treatment

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Created: Wednesday, 20 July 2016 09:47

Written by Carolyn Szczepanski

In the throes of a mental health crisis, no one should have to worry about how they’re going to pay the rent. When that crisis requires treatment or hospitalization, they shouldn’t have to choose between getting well or getting evicted.

The Crisis Housing Fund was established to make sure that no low-income Minnesotan has to face those impossible choices.

Established by state legislation in 1993 and unique to Minnesota nationwide, the Crisis Housing Fund helps cover the rent or mortgage and other housing related expenses of residents while they receive care for serious mental illness. Administered by the Minnesota Housing Partnership for the state Department of Human Services the program provides short-term financial assistance to people whose income is being used to pay for an inpatient or residential mental health treatment of 90 days or less.

Over the past two decades, thousands of Minnesotans have accessed the program. According to a new MHP analysis, more than 7,000 applications have been funded, amounting to more than $6 million in assistance since the start of the program.

Read more: State Fund Helps Thousands Maintain Housing while in Mental Health Treatment