In her opening remarks at the Agency’s October Board Meeting, Commissioner Mary Tingerthal stated that the board would soon be making the annual project funding awards. Once this was done she and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith would be in Rochester for an announcement of the awards. Tingerthal commented that finally…
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Tingerthal announces federal appointment, Board approves final Affordable Housing Plan
At the start of the September MN Housing Board Meeting, Commissioner Tingerthal announced she has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors’ Consumer Advisory Council. She represents one of 15 people nationally recruited to provide advice to the Fed on the impact of its policies on various types…
Halbach challenges condemnation of Met Council housing plan
Once again Katherine Kersten shares a vision for regional growth in which all roads lead to less regulation and lower taxes. Kersten’s alarmist piece includes numerous misleading or misplaced condemnations of the Metropolitan Council, affordable housing, and the planning profession. I’ll focus on two of her examples given as reasons to…
New County Profiles released: Rents up in 82 counties amidst short supply
Our 2015 County Profiles point to trouble for renters all across Minnesota. Rents have risen and affordable rental units are in very short supply for those who need them. This year’s profiles for each of Minnesota’s 87 counties include data not just on housing cost burden, but also on new units…
New grant funds for three states boost rural development
As the result of a recent federal grant, MHP staff are preparing for work in three rural US communities: Osage County, Oklahoma, the Lakes & Pines Region of E. Central Minnesota, and Bowman and Golden Valley counties in North Dakota. All three communities, which have undertaken extensive planning and strategizing,…
Housing Institute teams gather to “date” developers and court opportunity
Teams from MHP’s Greater MN regional community development training program, the Housing Institute, met early this month in Baxter, MN for their third gathering since their kick-off meeting last January. The meeting gave teams the chance to update each other on their projects’ progress, discuss federal policy with staff from…
New Energy for Renewables in Affordable Housing
Renewable energy, especially solar, is of great interest to affordable housing developers from both a financial sustainability and mission perspective. However, effective practices and financing systems are still emerging in Minnesota. In May, the MHP Investors Council hosted a breakfast discussion focusing on alternative energy sources for affordable housing. …
Food for Thought: Racial Segregation and Affordable Housing
Since at least the 1940s, there have been lawsuits nationwide regarding racial segregation and affordable housing. A recent controversial report from the Institute for Metropolitan Opportunity at the University of Minnesota and a related fair-housing complaint have amplified the discussion in Minnesota. To help readers consider the issues surrounding racial segregation and affordable…
Revisiting 25 years of MHP
On February 12, MHP celebrated its 25th year with an anniversary party at the Schmidt Artist Lofts. The event was a chance to celebrate our many partners and an opportunity for everyone to network and enjoy themselves. People caught up with old friends, made new ones, and shared ideas about how we…
The people behind development – an Itasca County housing team makes Beacon Hill a reality
When reporting on affordable housing development, traditional media outlets often miss the opportunity to report the “story behind the story”— the narrative of the people who make development possible. MHP’s Impact Spotlight looks beyond the likely narrative of “units created” and “statistics show” to the stories of collaboration that…