• MHP Concludes the 8th Housing Institute

    Since 2010, MHP’s Housing Institute model has brought together regionalized housing leaders and stakeholders to share their experiences, learn best practices, and develop creative solutions for bringing quality affordable housing to their communities. MHP has recently concluded the 2022-23 institute cohort which featured 4 teams from southern Minnesota: Janesville, Wabasha, Winnebago, and Winona.

    Over the course of the institute the teams convened for five in person workshops that covered key topics; exploring foundational work, effective collaboration, strategic communications, the development process and strategies, and funding and resources. Workshop agendas included a variety of activities such as; a panel of Developers specializing in a variety of building strategies, project presentation opportunities to both funders and developers, one-on-one access to stakeholders, training in developing partner relationships, and much more!

    In addition to the in person workshops each team teams received direct technical assistance from a MHP liaison. This relationship was able to help supplement the training workshops, further their projects, and provide individualized support as an adjunct. Learn about some of the highlights from each team:

    Janesville:

    The Janesville team progressed on developing a housing preservation program and have began the process of developing strategic partnerships with a number of regional community action agencies, and multiple private property owners interested in developing housing within the City. Additionally, staff and team members were able to utilize the institute to make connections outside the region with organizations like the North Country Foundation, who work with manufactured home parks to assist with conversion to resident-owned communities. Finally, the institute provided the Janesville team with the opportunity to complete an updated housing study which will continue to be a critical reference for the team’s work moving forward. 

    MHP Community Development Officer Harlen Buckalew (left) with the Housing Institute 8 Janesville team.

    Wabasha:

    The Wabasha team began their work by establishing the WATCH Committee (Wabasha Area Team for our Community’s Housing). This committee will be tasked with collaboratively identifying and pursuing build sites with development potential and began informal but effective community outreach right away. Three potential development projects were scoped by the team for both single-family and multi-family development including a vacant athletic field, lots adjacent to a downtown highway realignment project, and supplemental single-family lots. As a result of the team’s work Minnesota Housing has now identified Wabasha as one of their higher priority places for funding.

    As the institute concludes the WATCH team will continue to work with Three Rivers Community Action, a local nonprofit, on developing tax credit funded housing projects, engage with the local Habitat for Humanity branch on smaller project development, and will be holding a community event to meet interested private developers for market rate single family development.  

    Winnebago:

    During the institute the Winnebago Team was able to complete a housing study that will provide localized data and information about the housing landscape. Winnebago was also able to identify opportunities for incentivizing new construction, and will pursue small single family homes and continue to explore modular options to support their aging and low-income community. Finally, with the support of MHP staff the team participated in organizing and hosting a community event promoting and clearly communicating these strategies for addressing increasing home value and an aging housing stock. They reinforced the results of the housing study to increase political support for projects.

    Winona: 

    The Winona team has been pursuing an umbrella housing fund that will help address the housing needs of those facing barriers to traditional housing, especially those at risk of homelessness and recidivism. The team has worked with MHP’s assistance to engage several critical partners, including Hiawatha Valley Social Services, the Winona Community Foundation (WCF), and philanthropic supporters. Though the fund is not yet active, all required groundwork is completed, including the establishment of operating procedures, a governing board, and an administrating partner (WCF). 

    In addition to the establishment of the new umbrella fund, the Winona team has been able to implement their scattered site supportive housing program, for which they have hired a program manager. This manager will work with partnering organizations to support community members at risk of homelessness and/or recidivism with accessing affordable units. Into the future the Winona team will host a community event to provide information to would-be tenants and landlords whom can participate the scattered site program, ideally resulting in the reservation of additional units.

    Learn more about MHP’s Technical Assistance

    Brian Muhs

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  • MHP to Host Northwest Housing and Community Development Workshop

    MHP to Host Northwest Housing and Community Development Workshop

    MHP is excited to host the regional workshop: Advancing Housing and Community Development in the Northwest Region of Minnesota on June 8, 2023. It will bring together leaders focused on housing solutions for the region and emphasize specific development opportunities in the region.

    Register to Attend Here

    Brian Muhs

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  • A Constitutional Amendment for Housing

    Visit OurHomesMN.org for information!

    Because we need to ensure the state is making the ongoing investments required to truly address our current housing crisis.

    Our campaign principles include race equity, sustainability and climate resilience, uplifting rural voices, accessibility, and ensuring frontline leaders and grassroots groups are decision-makers and campaign leaders.

    The constitutional amendment for housing will create a:

    • Homeownership Opportunity Fund
    • Rental Opportunity Fund (including a minimum investment of $100 million annually in universal rental assistance/Bring it Home, MN)
    • Household & Community Stability Fund.

    The funds are broad and flexible, able to accommodate innovative new concepts as well as existing programs, funds, and financing. A council of up to 24 people will be appointed for each fund to make budget and policy recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, with seats reserved for those with lived experience and frontline and grassroots organizations, among others.

    DRAFT ballot language: A constitutional amendment for housing:

    Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove barriers to homeownership, to make our rental housing safe and affordable, and to protect our vulnerable households and communities from displacement and homelessness by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2025, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2050?

    MHP is proud to join more than 60 organizations in endorsing a constitutional amendment for housing.

    Learn more at ourhomesmn.org

    Download the one-pager here.

    Download the FAQs here.

    Jenny Jones

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  • Part Two: North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network’s Work with MHP: David’s Story

    Part I centered on MHP’s technical assistance work with North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network (NORVHN), which involved instilling sound practices, procedures, and policies for the fast-growing organization. MHP facilitated strategic planning and worked to build a solid foundation for the organization. Critically, MHP helped NORVHN restructure its board of directors to a highly functioning body with the capacity to make important connections in the community. Cheri Tinker, Executive Director, shared how this has impacted the veterans that they serve, highlighting the story of veteran David Williams.

    Photo: NORVHN client David Williams

    Viola, one of the new board members from this process, works in direct service – and because of her relationship with NORVHN, referred David to them. Without that connection, without Viola knowing NORVHN’s unique set of services, David wouldn’t have ever come to them, as on the surface his medical issues made him seem beyond their care.

    David, whom Cheri calls, “A quiet, delightful man,” was homeless and had a mountain of health issues. Although he had been clean and sober for 8 years when he came to Sarge’s Place (one of NORVHN’s shelters), he was previously a chronic drug user, which wreaked havoc on his memory and body. He had severe diabetes, which he did not monitor. He was accepted into the shelter and the staff stabilized his medical condition. There he lived for 8 months – concurrent to NORVHN receiving MHP technical assistance with Deputy Director of Community Development Barbara Dolan.

    NORVHN built Hobucket House, a permanent, 7-bedroom group home, David was able to move right in. One night he passed away peacefully. When the Chief of Police arrived, himself a combat vet, he noted that although David had only lived at Hobucket House for 3 weeks, he died with “family.”

    David had no connection to family or friends – the staff and residents of the organization were it. They serve as the familial unit for many of the residents. NORVHN is often listed as next of kin for these previously homeless vets. In fact, several urns of ashes sit with Cheri at her desk, who honors their memory as part of their program.

    Cheri says about David, “It was a beautiful thing that we could support him at the end of his life. He had a comfortable place, he was eating and drinking, he was warm, and he was dry. A man who had lived on the streets for years died with dignity in a comfortable environment with a sense of family. We were able to give someone the compassion of being present with them at the end of their life.”

    “Without that connectivity – from the board being expanded and more vibrant, maybe David might not have been in our care.” That’s due to MHP’s technical assistance, which helped “bring truth out from our essence.” “MHP and Barbara helped us to create the foundation. I had the scaffolding, they helped to create the foundation.”

    Learn more about MHP’s Technical Assistance

    Brian Muhs

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  • Part One: North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network’s Work with MHP: “It saved our agency.”

    It all began with a Google search. In 2020, with the global pandemic raging, Cheri Tinker felt overwhelmed in her position as Executive Director of the North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network (NORVHN), an organization she founded. While NORVHN was experiencing growth, it was all set up on one person’s shoulders. Like many nonprofits, NORVHN evolved from the passion of one individual – in this case, Cheri’s passion was helping homeless vets in her community. But never having run a organization like this before, she built it the only way she knew how. NORVHN’s foundation wasn’t solid, making their important work unsustainable. Cheri turned to an internet search, and stumbled upon MHP. That, she says, was “transformative.”

    Once houseless veterans served by Sarge’s Place.

    NORVHN works with homeless Veterans of Clallam and Jefferson Counties on the Olympic Penninsula of Washington State, providing emergency shelter and permanent housing for Veterans in Washington State. This includes a 7-unit permanent supportive project built using modular housing, the first of its kind in the State of Washington. They also have a 2-story apartment building in Forks (Sarge’s Place), a second-hand store, a farm, a 4-plex in Port Angeles, and more. At the time Cheri contacted MHP, they had the projects and momentum, what they needed was the structure and support to make it sustainable.

    When COVID struck, and NORVHN’s access to grants dried up, they applied for technical assistance with MHP with the goal of making them “whole.” MHP’s work came via the uber capable hands of Deputy Community Development Director Barbara Dolan. Barbara helped Cheri on all of the aspects of an organization that are hidden from the public–the unsexy yet critical work like sound practices, procedures, policies, manuals. She helped streamline their bookkeeping processes, transforming their audits and how grantors viewed their finances. They worked on restructuring the board of directors from elderly Vietnam Vets who didn’t have the capacity to support Cheri’s work, to a highly functioning board who could make important connections in the community. They did strategic planning, succession planning, and built an incredible structure for the organization. As Cheri gushes, “MHP saved our agency—you made it vibrant and healthy again!”

    This is Part One in a two-part series on MHP’s work with NORVHN. Read Part Two in which we’ll tell Veteran David’s Story here.

    Learn more about MHP’s Technical Assistance

    Brian Muhs

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  • Our State Surplus Should be Invested in Housing: Ensuring Minnesotans Have a Home is the Best Investment the State Can Make

    Our State Surplus Should be Invested in Housing: Ensuring Minnesotans Have a Home is the Best Investment the State Can Make

    by Anne Mavity, Executive Director, MHP

    Housing investments are an excellent strategy for deploying our state’s historic surplus to leverage long-term, generational benefits for Minnesota. Every corner of Minnesota needs more homes that are affordable to families and seniors and ensure local businesses can recruit the growing workforce they need to expand and thrive.  

    Each year, there are at least three requests to Minnesota Housing for housing project funding for every one that can actually be funded; these projects are shovel-ready right now and once built, will offer safe, decent, stable homes for generations of hard-working Minnesotans.   

    Communities around the state—from Greater Minnesota’s rural areas to cities like Duluth and St. Cloud—are feeling the squeeze of rising costs that have put homes out of reach of too many families. Our state leaders have an opportunity to come together to ensure that all our neighbors have homes from which to build their future.  

    Everyone needs a home – this is a bipartisan solution that can provide a fundamental building block of our State’s success. We need housing stability for all aspects of life: to maintain our health, to hold a job, for our kids to get their homework done. A stable home makes anything possible.  

    It’s time to raise expectations for the level of investments we need in homes for every Minnesotan. Tell your state leaders why housing is so important to you and your family today! 

    Brian Muhs

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  • 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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  • MHP’s Emerging Developer Initiative Presents: Regional Housing Challenges, Perspectives, and Solutions

    MHP’s Emerging Developer Initiative Presents: Regional Housing Challenges, Perspectives, and Solutions

    On Thursday, September 22, MHP is hosting a day of housing policy practicum for northwest Minnesota and tribal nations in Bemidji, MN. The day long event hosted at Bemidji”s Carnegie Library + Watermark Arts Center, will provide the opportunity for networking and provide training and tools to support local housing development. 

    Sessions and Workshops Featuring:

    Morning Policy Plenary at Bemidji Carnegie Library

    Welcome and opening remarks by Jorge Prince, Mayor of Bemidji.

    Welcome and opening remarks by Jorge Prince, Mayor of Bemidji.
    GIS Presentation: Participate in an interactive overview of housing development, followed by a multi-sector panel discussion exploring regional perspectives and approaches to housing.
    Lunch and Networking at Watermark Arts Center

    Afternoon Roundtable Technical Assistance Practicum

    Join us for a roundtable of subject matter experts, providing resources and covering such topics as:

    • Energy efficiency, renewable energy, and small homes;
    • Pro forma development (prior info submission will be requested), access to government and philanthropic resources;
    • Small business development and marketing.
    • Bring your vision to life by meeting one-to-one with an architect who will sketch your initial site plan and rendering on the spot!

    REGISTER HERE

    This Housing Opportunity Workshop (HOW) is first in a series to promote networking and provide training and tools to support local housing development.

    Thanks to our technical assistance partners: Greater Minnesota Housing Fund • Minnesota Housing • Northwest Minnesota Foundation • Northwest Small Business Development Center • Architect Jacob Mans.

    For more information and to register contact Donald Googleye, Community Development Manager donald.goggleye[at]mhponline.org.

    Brian Muhs

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