MHP Connect

New Faces at MHP

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Created: Tuesday, 15 October 2013 12:27

New MHP Staff2In September MHP welcomed five new employees, growing our staff to meet our expanding policy and national technical assistance work. Each individual brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will make them a valuable part of our team.  We also wished Barbara Kennedy well, a long-term employee who began her retirement in early September. Barbara will stay on part time to coordinate the Crisis Housing program for a few more months. Please welcome ThaoMee Xiong, Jen Shadowens & Beth Ziebarth to our policy team and Sunny Bjorklund Schultz & Matt Reuland to our operations team.

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Shutdown + Sequestration Double Whammy

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Created: Wednesday, 09 October 2013 14:02

Federal budget debates have dominated 2013, particularly since the sequestration cuts went into effect in March. The conversation was elevated to a new level with the federal government shutdown on October 1. How does the shutdown – due to stalled budget negotiations and politicking - affect housing, both nationally and in Minnesota? And what about organizations and people already impacted by sequestration?

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Why does creating affordable housing cost so much, and what do we do about it?

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Created: Friday, 04 October 2013 15:24

On September 25th, MHP held an Investors' Council event featuring reflections from national and Minnesota housing experts charged with sharing research and recommendations for containing costs in the development of affordable rental housing. Joining as panelists were Michael Spotts, Senior Policy Analyst at Enterprise Community Partners in Washington, DC, John Patterson, Director of Planning, Analysis & Evaluation at Minnesota Housing, and Minnesota Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal.

The panelists spoke to balancing the imperative for top quality affordable housing that works well for communities and residents, with that of investing increasingly scarce dollars wisely, in a climate of serious need for affordable housing.

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Twin Cities Rents Rising at Fastest Rate in a Dozen Years: 2nd Quarter 2013 2x4 Report

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Created: Tuesday, 10 September 2013 11:34

In a heated housing market, rents in the Twin Cities have been rising at the fastest rate since the early 2000s. Rents have increased 8.5% in the last three years, and now average $979 per month, according to data in the our newest "2 x 4" Report, which covers the second quarter of 2013.

As the cost of housing rises, renters with limited incomes are facing an ever more serious shortage of apartments affordable to them. Fully 98% of area apartments renting for under $1,000 are already occupied, the report says.

Read more: Twin Cities Rents Rising at Fastest Rate in a Dozen Years: 2nd Quarter 2013 2x4 Report