MHP Connect

June 2015 Minnesota Housing Board Meeting

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Created: Thursday, 09 July 2015 14:49

Written by Libby Murphy

At the June Minnesota Housing board meeting, the board considered public comments on several relevant topics in response to its proposed 2016-19 strategic plan. Operating subsidy awards for supportive housing programs were approved. The board heard an end-of session legislative report as well as a report on a recent meeting with Congressman Walz. Board Member Klinzing was approved for another term, the Agency will be hiring several new staff, and research interns will be working on studies over the summer. 

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Sequestration Compliance Forces Drastic Cuts in Proposed 2016 HUD Budgets

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Created: Thursday, 09 July 2015 10:19

Written by Libby Murphy

This summer, the U.S. House and the Senate Appropriations Committee has each passed a Fiscal Year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill that severely under-funds needed housing programs. Both bodies were forced to make drastic cuts in order to to adhere to the 2011 Budget Control Act spending caps.

Until a sequester relief deal is struck, appropriation committees in both the House and Senate are adhering to the spending caps. In the meantime, Senate Democrats plan to block full Senate floor consideration of both the House and Senate bills. President Obama has threatened to veto any spending bill that uses sequestration spending caps.

Click on the chart to see detailed House and Senate proposed funding for select HUD programs. Read below for more analysis and policy updates in the two bills.

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June 2x4 Report: More MN renters competing for lower-cost apartments

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Created: Tuesday, 30 June 2015 03:18

Written by Leigh Rosenberg

MHP's June 2015 2x4 Report, released today, found that low rental vacancy rates and rising rents have led to competition for lower-priced units, at least in the Twin Cities where regular data is available. Minnesotans with low incomes are at greatest risk in this tight rental market.

According to data in the report, the overall rental vacancy rate for market-rate units was 2.7%. But for those renting for $1,000 or less, only 2.0% of units were vacant in the first quarter of 2015.* To afford an apartment that costs $1,000 per month, a family would need to earn $40,000 to avoid paying 30% or more of its income for housing, the federal standard for housing affordability.

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2015 Session Wrap Part II: Workforce Housing

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Created: Wednesday, 24 June 2015 14:47

Written by Libby Murphy

For several years, MHP has heard from community partners that the lack of available and affordable housing for workers in Greater Minnesota is an ongoing frustration which leaves renters competing for housing and constrains job growth. MHP believes that the Legislature has a role to play in addressing the near inability of the market to support development of workforce housing for lower and moderate income renters in Greater Minnesota.

Read more: 2015 Session Wrap Part II: Workforce Housing