MHP Connect

MN Housing board update: Bridges program modified, conversion of Fort Snelling buildings considered

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Created: Thursday, 30 March 2017 16:57

At its March meeting, the Minnesota Housing board discussed changes to the Bridges program and the use of Agency tax exempt bonding to convert 26 historic Fort Snelling buildings into affordable apartments, the Upper Post Flats.

In her opening remarks Commissioner Mary Tingerthal informed the board that Minnesota Housing will move its office location this coming August. The Agency will be located in the renovated former Macy’s building in downtown St. Paul.

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Threat to Challenge Fund could undermine workforce housing

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Created: Thursday, 30 March 2017 13:29

The entire community gains when sensible, effective investments in housing benefit employers, workers and lower-income Minnesotans. As the state’s major resource to create housing for families across a wide range of incomes, the Challenge Program is essential in advancing workforce housing development that helps communities grow and sustain their economies.

Though the demand for workforce housing and Challenge funding are great, leaders in the Minnesota House of Representatives have proposed deep cuts to this essential resource — and MHP is working with lawmakers and advocates to ensure those cuts are restored and the Challenge program is fully funded.

Here's why.

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Trump's defense-first budget puts need of Minnesotans last

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Created: Friday, 24 March 2017 13:54

In framing the merits of his dangerous budget, President Trump stated that “without safety, there can be no prosperity.” He’s right. Without a safe, affordable place to call home, families and communities cannot thrive. And Trump’s budget puts thousands of vulnerable Minnesotans in additional peril.  In a sense, the Trump budget provides for a wall but many fewer roofs.

Minnesota Housing Partnership’s recently released study, State of the State’s Housing, provides context for the proposed budget cuts.  We report that across Minnesota one in four households is lacking housing affordability — a percentage that will surely increase as resources for this critical need are siphoned away under Trump’s defense-first budget.

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10 Graphics that Reveal the State of the State's Housing

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Created: Monday, 13 March 2017 05:24

Minnesota is recognized as a national leader for its commitment to helping families with affordable ownership and rental homes. But while significant progress has been made in areas like homelessness, housing is still becoming too costly for growing numbers of Minnesotans — especially low- to moderate-income families and households of color.

Building on our County Profiles, released each year since 2009, MHP created the State of the State’s Housing to continue to benchmark progress at the state, region and county levels in critical areas, including cost-burdened households paying more than 30% of their income for housing; changes in rent and home values; construction of multi- and single-family homes; and trends in homelessness.

Here are 10 graphics that share the big picture on the state of housing in Minnesota.

Read more: 10 Graphics that Reveal the State of the State's Housing