MHP Connect

Minnesota Housing April Board Meeting Report

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:08:13 +0000

In April, the Minnesota Housing board meeting included an overview of the overhauled Minnesota Housing website, further impacts of sequestration on HUD, and the closing of HUD's multifamily office in Minnesota. Finally, the board approved awards of funding under the Bridges program and waived the $1 million maximum award for the St. Paul Old Home Plaza project.

Together, A Step Closer to Homes for All

lrosenberg@mhponline.org (Leigh Rosenberg) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:46:01 +0000

Over the years at MHP, we've learned that if we can do good work alone, we can do much better work together in collaboration with our networks and partners. This is nowhere more apparent than in our shared Homes for All state advocacy work to make sure that Minnesota state agencies have the resources they need to prevent and end homelessness, to create safe and affordable housing, and to preserve the precious affordable housing we do have.

April Resources Roundup

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:27:02 +0000

MHP has surveyed the latest tools and articles to locate those that might be of interest to MHP Connect readers. This month's resources include Wilder's release of data on Minnesota's homeless population, a snapshot of Minnesota's homeless trends, a guide on how to get affordable housing and utility stakeholders to work together, a survey that shows positive attitudes toward rental housing, and a study that explains how the housing crisis contributed to the widening racial wealth gap.

Ellison Reintroduces Path Breaking Housing Policy

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:13:24 +0000

Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison reintroduced the Common Sense Housing Investment Act (H.R. 1213), which would reform the Mortgage Interest Deduction and to use the billions saved to fund affordable housing programs, for renters in particular.

H.R. 1213 would create a new balance between homeowners and renters to make federal housing resources more accessible and better targeted to those struggling with housing needs.

MHP, along with the National Low Income Housing Coalition, is actively supporting this legislation and invites others to lend their support, since passage will require a lot of education and hard work.

March 2013 MN Housing Board Meeting

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:19:47 +0000

This month, the Minnesota Housing board meeting included policy updates, an explanation of the new Mortgage Credit Certificate program slated to launch in June, and final approval of the application criteria for low income housing tax credits. Finally, a progress report of the Rental Rehab Deferred Loan pilot program was discussed, along with proposed changes intended to make access to rehab resources easier for small rental property owners in Greater Minnesota.

March Resources Roundup

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:09:25 +0000

MHP has surveyed the latest tools and articles to locate those that might be of interest to MHP Connect readers. This month's resources include Wilder's research on Minnesota homeless data, a bipartisan report recommending several key federal housing policy changes, HUD's Worst Case Housing Needs report, a report that demonstrates the efficacy of foreclosure prevention counseling, and a local report that illustrates the cost of foreclosures.

Family Homelessness at Record High, Foreclosures Drop in Latest 2x4 Report

lrosenberg@mhponline.org (Leigh Rosenberg) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:06:11 +0000

The latest 2x4 Report was released today, with findings that remind us that though the economy has improved for some, many others are being left behind. In sum, record numbers of homeless families sought shelter in Hennepin County, while rents continued to rise. On the other hand, falling foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies spelled good news for the beleaguered home ownership market.

February 2013 MN Housing Board Meeting

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:25:43 +0000

The February Minnesota Housing board meeting included updates on a range of topics, from the financial picture of the Agency, to changes in loan programs, and more.

MHP to Launch an Innovative Approach to Strengthening Rural Economies

brandon.gil@mhponline.org (Brandon Gil) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:51:06 +0000

This April Minnesota Housing Partnership will lead a team of experts through the design phase of "Competitive Communities," a new, national approach to helping rural areas respond to the challenges they face.

Both in areas facing economic hardship due to declining populations and in thriving areas where businesses are expanding, rural communities often do not have an organized way to respond to critical community conditions. Competitive Communities aims to deliver a support package of services and financial resources that will help communities take charge of their destinies.

89 Hours a Week to Afford Rent? Out of Reach 2013 Report Released

lrosenberg@mhponline.org (Leigh Rosenberg) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:57:22 +0000

According to the Out of Reach report for 2013 released this week, a minimum wage earner in Minnesota would have to work 89 hours per week – or hold 2.2 full time jobs -- to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Of the twelve states in the Midwest, Minnesota has ranked the worst for affordability for minimum wage workers for three consecutive years.

The annual Out of Reach report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition provides rental affordability data for every state, metro area, and county in the US. MHP's Minnesota-specific report includes state data, including three Minnesota maps.

In order to afford the rent and utilities for a safe, modest 2-bedroom apartment in the private housing market, a Minnesota worker would need to earn $16.08 per hour, 40 hours a week, all year long. By contrast, the typical renter household in Minnesota earns the equivalent of $14.09 per hour. Federal minimum wage pays only $7.25 per hour.

The report underscores the urgency of passing legislation to ensure that resources are available to make housing affordable to renters, at both the state and federal levels.