• MHP & Taos Pueblo Housing Authority Collaboration Leads to New Housing

    MHP & Taos Pueblo Housing Authority Collaboration Leads to New Housing

    For the past three years, MHP’s Community Development team has been working with the Taos Pueblo Housing Authority to provide technical assistance on multiple fronts, including supporting their mission and helping to create a guide for staff in maintaining compliance. Another collaborative project is the funding and design of a 50+ unit new single-family housing development! Along with Heroda Bikax^e Consulting LLC, MHP brought in Ferguson Pyatt Architects to complete revisions to a site plan for the Spider Rock development needed to accommodate recently discovered cultural artifacts. We’ve provided guidance on potential funding resources, layering and leveraging resources for infrastructure and vertical construction, and assisted in submitting multiple state and federal grants. These units will be the first houses built by the Taos Pueblo Housing Authority in over 30 years. Infrastructure groundbreaking took place on October 28th, with the first units slated to be built in the summer of 2023.

    3 Former Taos Pueblo Governors listen to a prayer by a Tribal elder during groundbreaking ceremonies: Gilbert Suazo Sr, Richard Aspenwind, Nelson Cordova. Rick Romancito for the Taos News

    Over the upcoming months, MHP will continue to work with the Spider Rock development team to submit more funding requests, assist the TPHA Executive Director in creating a strategy for selecting new homeowners to serve the needs and priorities of the Pueblo while maintaining financial stability, participate in a design charrette and community education event, and set the stage for the next phase of the development of 26 units non-NAHASDA homes (The Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996). More on the long history of this project was featured in the Taos News. 

    Barbara Dolan, Deputy Director of Community Development says, “It’s been a privilege to be working with the many devoted staff and leaders from Taos! A lot of hard work, time, and money from a truly committed team is making this project a reality!” It’s one more example of how MHP is working nationwide to live into its mission.

    Brian Muhs

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  • MHP’s 2022 Central Minnesota Housing Summit

    MHP’s 2022 Central Minnesota Housing Summit

    The Central Minnesota Housing Summit was developed in partnership with the Initiative Foundation and Sourcewell. MHP convened regional nonprofits, developers, and housing stakeholders for a peer-to-peer, in-person workshop on regional affordable housing needs and local solutions.

    118 people registered from 65 different organizations representing 15 counties and 2 Native Nations!

    Tuesday, December 6: Summit Opening Afternoon

    Doors open at 3:30, Program at 4 pm. Includes dinner and:

    • Opening Remarks: Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive at Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
    • Minnesota’s Affordable Housing Needs: An Environmental Scan with Rose Surma, Executive Director, Oasis Central Minnesota; Anne Mavity, Executive Director, MHP
    • Keynote Address: Heather Worthington, Director of Inclusive Growth, the Center for Economic Inclusion
    • Optional: Stay over at Mille Lacs Grand Casino Hotel (limited free rooms)

    Wednesday, December 7: Summit Programming

    Includes breakfast, lunch and:

    • Opening Remarks by former Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioners Mary Tingerthal, Tingerthal Group, and Tim Marx, Winthrop & Weinstein
    • Local Housing Solutions: Eric Charpentier, Executive Director of the Brainerd HRA; Dustin Goslin of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures; Sara Bunn, Workforce Housing & Multifamily Engagement Manager, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency; Barbara Dolan, Deputy Director of Community Development, MHP
    • 2023 Legislative Session Preview and Advocacy: Elizabeth Glidden, MHP, Deputy Director
    • Housing Development 101: with Deanna Hemmesch, Central Minnesota Housing Partnership and Melissa Wyman, City of Staples
    • Creating Impactful Partnerships in Affordable Housing Delivery: with John Rocker, Director of Lending, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund; Vicky Kinney, Executive Director, My Neighbor to Love Coalition; Gary Dietrich, GreenStep Coordinator, City of Hackensack, Bill Gray, Stakeholder Relations Director, Minnesota Homeownership Center,
    • Action! Next Steps for Affordable Housing

    MHP provides a high quality and safe experience at all of its events. Our team is taking the necessary precautions as recommended by the CDC. Complimentary masks will be available.

    MHP is committed to social, racial, gender, and economic justice and strongly encourages women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and individuals who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ to participate.

    Contact us with event inquiries and continue to check back on this event page as resources will be added as they become available.

    Brian Muhs

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  • MHP’s EDI Hosts: A Housing Economic Development Workshop

    MHP’s EDI Hosts: A Housing Economic Development Workshop

    MHP’s Emerging Developers Initiative (EDI) held a housing and economic development workshop for NW Minnesota and Tribal Nations in Crookston, MN this week: Where Are All Those Workers Driving in From and Why Can’t They Live Here? For more information on the EDI which supports the emergence and professional development of new housing developers from rural communities and Tribal Nations, contact Donald Googleye, Community Development Manager at [email protected].

    Panelists at the EDI Workshop in Crookston, MN

    Mark Borseth, Community Development Consultant, City of Thief River Falls;

    Karie Kirschbaum, Economic Development Director, City of Crookston;

    Anna Sheppard, President, White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC);

    Mitch Berg, Associate Director of UMC’s Veden Center for Rural Development;

    Elizabeth Glidden, Deputy Executive Director, MHP

    Brian Muhs

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  • Vote Homes: Engaging Candidates in 2022

    Vote Homes: Engaging Candidates in 2022

    A webinar on the importance of candidate engagement during the 2020 election, with a focus on housing. Learn about the 2022 Candidate Questionnaire on Housing Issues, tips for non-profits engaging with candidates, social media engagement, and hosting candidate forums. You can find presentation slides (PDF) here, and a video recording here.

    Brian Muhs

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  • What You Need to Know: Tax Credit Webinar

    What You Need to Know: Tax Credit Webinar

    MHP hosted a virtual learning opportunity on the new MN Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC) on Thursday, July 14, 2022. This new housing tool invests $10 million annually to affordable and workforce housing. Passed in 2021, it will go into effect in 2023. It is the only new and on-going investment in housing development from this legislative biennium. MHP led the effort to enact this program and we want to ensure that as Minnesota Housing designs a program that works.

    This webinar helped inform comments MHP prepares for Minnesota Housing.

    Hear from the bill’s chief author Senator Carla Nelson, Jennifer Henderson the Planning and Housing Development Director from North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, which ran a similar tax credit contribution style program, and Dan Madler from Beyond Shelter who developed multiple projects with ND’s program. 

    Watch the Full Recording: here, and view Presentation slides (PDF): here, Meeting Chat (PDF): here, AHTC Summary: here.

    Jenny Jones

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  • MHP to launch a multi-year housing campaign: Request for Proposals

    MHP to launch a multi-year housing campaign: Request for Proposals

    MHP is excited to launch a multi-year statewide housing campaign in 2022. We seek to change the hearts and minds of people throughout the state about housing—dispel myths and stereotypes about who needs and lives in affordable homes and promote understanding about how housing affects our ability to succeed and thrive – in order to ultimately achieve legislative victories for housing at the state legislature.  

    We hope you will support us in our effort to generate game-changing and sustained housing investments and policies. Linked here you’ll find our RFP for campaign and communications services. Respondents may apply for all or part of the scope of work components.

    Thank you for helping us get the word out about this widely! We at MHP look forward to updating our community as this campaign moves forward. 

    RFP Response Deadline: 

    Responses are due by Thursday, July 14, 2022, end of business (5:00 pm). Please send all responses via email to [email protected]. Review of RFP responses will begin as soon as responses are received and will continue until selection. 

    Brian Muhs

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  • Housing Institute 8: Four Teams from SE MN to Address Housing Challenges in their Communities

    On a windy Rochester day, Housing Institute 8 teams gathered to learn how to achieve more affordable housing in their community.

    MHP established the Housing Institute in 2010, bringing together housing leaders and stakeholders to share experiences and best practices to catalyze the development of affordable housing throughout the state. This peer-to-peer exchange drives the formation of regional partnerships through a team-based approach, capitalizing on local expertise and resources.

    Now in its eighth iteration, the 2022-2023 Housing Institute (HI8) features four teams from Southeastern Minnesota communities: Janesville, Wabasha, Winnebago, and Winona. Throughout the next year and a half, the teams will pursue a specific project addressing the housing challenges they face. MHP supports these efforts via direct technical assistance and workshops.

    This past month, MHP kicked off HI8’s first workshop in Rochester, Minnesota with a hybrid in-person/virtual format. MHP worked with the teams in identifying community housing challenges they each hope to address―establishing a firm foundation for the work to come.

    Future workshops will include exploration of development models and strategies, existing resources, funding opportunities, and more. Curriculum is tailored to each teams’ needs, driving solutions in supportive and senior housing opportunities, addressing homelessness, and identifying viable building territory. Keep an eye on our website to see how teams progress at the Institute! Questions about the Housing Institute? Contact Housing Institute Coordinator Harlan Buckalew via phone at 651-925-5536 or harlan.buckalew [at] mhponline.org.

    Jenny Jones

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  • OSAH-MN Federal Housing Advocacy Updates & Training

    OSAH-MN Federal Housing Advocacy Updates & Training

    Tuesday, June 14, 10-11:30 am

    Join Minnesota’s Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH-MN) Campaign to learn what action Congress is taking to support housing justice through resources and policy. You will learn about the OSAH-MN campaign, get updates on what is happening in Washington, DC, and receive training on federal advocacy activities. 

    You can access a recording of this program here, program slides here, and the meeting chat here. 

    Several advocacy actions were recommended by Sarah Saadian of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.  Links referenced during Sarah’s presentation can be found here.

    We invite you to join the Minnesota Chapter of Opportunity Starts at Home!  You can join the campaign here. 

    Additional housing resources include:

    The Minnesota Chapter of Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH-MN) is a federal advocacy campaign working to meet the housing needs of under-resourced Minnesotans. OSAH-MN is committed to organizing locally and acting at the federal level to secure the resources necessary to ensure that everyone has a home. 

    Brian Muhs

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  • Job Posting: Community Development Associate

    Job Posting: Community Development Associate

    MHP seeks someone interested in and committed to affordable housing that wants to start at the ground level assisting our Community Development department.

    You’ll provide support for our team’s work of planning, coordinating, delivering and reporting on Community Development projects across the country.

    This is a very interesting and busy position! No need to live in Minnesota either—we are 100% remote.

    Jenny Jones

  • Support Source of Income Protections TODAY!

    Support Source of Income Protections TODAY!

    Source of Income Protections have been included in the House omnibus bill (HF4376) but not in the Senate omnibus. Action is needed to ensure SOI protections becomes law. We are asking folks to call their MN Senator, MN Representative, and if they have extra time Sen. Draheim.

    Find your legislators contact information:

    ***

    Scripts:

    Your Rep and Senator Pick up:

    Community Member: Hello, I am a constituent of Representative __________________and would like to make a comment about: HF4376 which includes Source of Income Protections for Housing. 

    Legislative Secretary: Certainly. I can transfer you. (Or they may be able to help you.) 

    Community Member: Thank you. My name is __________________, and I live at ________________. I’m calling to urge Representative _______________________ to support the Source of Income Protections for Housing included in HF4376. [INSERT INFO ABOUT YOUR WORK OR COMMUNITY]

    Legislative Secretary: I will give your message to Representative

    _________, would you like for him/her/they to send a response to you?

    Your Rep and Senator Voicemail:

    Dear _______:  

    My name is __ and I live at [___address & city___]. 

    I’m calling as part of the campaign to implement Source of Income Protections for Housing. This is an important protection that can help to expand the housing choices available to voucher holders, including in resource-rich neighborhoods where affordable housing options might otherwise be unavailable. In Minnesota landlords can legally discriminate against prospective tenants with any form of public assistance. As a result, some landlords refuse to rent to tenants with housing vouchers. The promise of finding a quality, healthy home in a neighborhood of your choice is denied. SOI Protections is currently included in HF4376, the House Housing Omnibus Bill. Please urge Chair Hausman to fight for SOI Protections in conference committee. 

    If implemented Source of Income protections would [INSERT INFO ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY] 

     Thank you! 

    Senat​or Draheim Voicemail ​and/or email:  

    Dear _______:  

    My name is __ and I live at [___address & city___]. 

    I’m calling as part of the campaign to implement Source of Income Protections for Housing. This is an important protection that can help to expand the housing choices available to voucher holders, including in resource-rich neighborhoods where affordable housing options might otherwise be unavailable. Minnesota’s SOI statute needs amending to ensure it covers all forms of public assistance so households can actually use the resources intended to help address our affordable housing challenges. Chair Draheim please support SOI Protections in conference committee. 

    If implemented Source of Income protections would [INSERT INFO ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY] 

    Thank you!

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    Brian Muhs

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