MHP Connect

MHP welcomes Warren Kramer as Community Development Director

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Created: Friday, 14 June 2019 13:45

Written by Laura Proescholdt

MHP is excited to announce Warren Kramer as our new Community Development Director. With more than 25 years of experience in the affordable housing field, Kramer is well positioned to lead MHP’s team of nationally recognized capacity building experts working in rural and Native communities in Minnesota and nationwide.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Warren,” said Anne Mavity, Executive Director. “His incredible passion for capacity building, his deep experience, and his leadership will help us sustain and grow our top-notch technical assistance work in communities across the U.S.”

Previously, Kramer served as Northcountry Cooperative Foundation’s (NCF’s) Executive Director since 2009, leading exciting work to support cooperative organizations through technical assistance. Primarily, NCF works in manufactured housing communities to help residents purchase the land beneath their homes.

Read more: MHP welcomes Warren Kramer as Community Development Director

Take action! Sign letter to help create 450,500 affordable homes!

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Created: Friday, 07 June 2019 15:01

Written by Laura Proescholdt

We need your voice now! On June 4, the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (S. 1703 and H.R. 3077) was reintroduced in both the Senate and the House! The bills will provide for approximately 450,500 additional affordable homes over the next ten years.  

Sign on to a support letter by Tuesday, June 11!   

The ACTION Campaign will be submitting a letter to Congress demonstrating strong support for the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act. Read the letter and sign on to support the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019. 

“With this legislation, we have an incredible opportunity to make a difference for Minnesota and for communities across the nation who desperately need affordable housing,” said Anne Mavity, Executive Director. “It’s crucial we speak up now and show our strong support for this bill.”  

According to the ACTION Campaign, both the House and Senate bills increase the Housing Credit allocation authority by 50 percent. In addition, the bills establish a minimum 4 percent Housing Credit rate, which would allow additional affordable homes to be constructed nationwide. The bills include more than two dozen other provisions that improve policy supporting affordable housing production and preservation.  

Minnesota is one of the top 10 states impacted by this legislation.   

#OurHomesOurVoices Facebook LIVE event with Isuroon

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Created: Friday, 07 June 2019 10:29

Written by Laura Proescholdt

Minnesota communities lack safe, affordable housing, leading to instability for too many families. How do we advocate together for lasting policy change in a way that’s empowering rather than extractive, traumatizing, or demoralizing?

On May 31, Fartun Weli, Director and Founder of Isuroon and Michelle Rivero, Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs for the City of Minneapolis, engaged those questions and more in a Facebook Live conversation with MHP Policy Director Elizabeth Glidden.

From left: Glidden, Weli, and Rivero

The event was one of dozens nationwide to elevate housing issues during the #OurHomesOurVoices national housing week of action from May 30 to June 5, coordinated by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Housing stability is a top issue impacting Weli’s clients and their families. Based in Minneapolis, Isuroon is a grassroots nonprofit organization that empowers Somali women by connecting them to wellness information, providing case management for refugees, and promoting leadership and civic engagement.

“We aren’t able to deliver services consistently because our audiences are moving consistently,” Weli explained. “Regardless of immigration status, housing discrimination is alarming for Somali community members. On top of that, once they find housing, families have to choose between buying food for the kids and paying the rent.”

Read more: #OurHomesOurVoices Facebook LIVE event with Isuroon

We're celebrating grants from the Otto Bremer Trust and Minnesota Housing!

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Created: Thursday, 06 June 2019 15:24

Written by Laura Proescholdt

MHP is celebrating a $75,000 grant awarded by the Otto Bremer Trust! Announced in May, the grant will help MHP grow our impact through general operating support. 

We’re also excited to announce a $40,000 award from Minnesota Housing, which will support MHP’s technical and financial assistance in Greater Minnesota communities. 

“We’re thrilled and grateful for these investments in MHP,” said Anne Mavity, Executive Director. “Our team is ready and eager to expand our impact in Minnesota and beyond. The support we’ve received from the Otto Bremer Trust and Minnesota Housing will be essential to making that happen.” 

Learn more about MHP’s work to build capacity in rural communities.