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 Minnesota congressional offices, and “speed date” with local developers interested in helping projects move forward.

“Meeting with potential developers was definitely a highlight of the meeting. It helped educate team members about what a developer might be looking for if they were interested in our project.” – Debra Shaff, Executive Director of the Cloquet/Carlton HRA

With the teams now half of the way through the Institute training, the convening addressed more specific aspects of project development—how to leverage state resources like tax credits and other local sources, how to court and choose the right developer, and how to generate creative solutions to common problems.

The four current teams from Brainerd, Cloquet, East Central, and West Central have projects that represent a diverse range of development needs. Projects range from senior, workforce, and supportive housing development, downtown rehab, to the creation of a web-based housing resource directory.

One of the highlights of the gathering was hearing from a team of Institute alumni from Grand Rapids who discussed the progress of their supportive housing project, Beacon Hill. Construction of the project began this spring. Members of the team reflected on their experience in the Institute and shared some of the key things they’ve learned throughout the development process.

“The synposis provided by Grand Rapids was invaluable – the commitment, the dedication and trust they had in one another was incredible. Their efforts and energy will benefit their community for years.” – Debra Shaff

Teams will continue to meet individually over the coming months and will gather for the final, large-group convening in October to discuss project funding and financing in more depth.

A special thanks to the event speakers:

The Housing Institute is a program of MHP and Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. The Institute is designed to foster regional collaboration and build the capacity of rural communities to meet local housing and community development needs. Read more about the Housing Institute here.

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 make affordable housing happen.

MHP’s newest Impact Spotlight, released this week, features a team in Grand Rapids, Minn. and the collaborative inspiration behind Beacon Hill, a supportive housing development set to break ground in spring 2015. This development will fill a large regional gap in meeting the needs of those barred from traditional housing due to criminal records, substance abuse histories, or struggles with mental health issues.

The team, composed of representatives from five local agencies, faced many challenges along the way: how to balance individual and shared visions for the project, how to court and partner with developers, and how to navigate a complicated process of funding. With the support of training through the Housing Institute and the backing of key partners, the team was able to make the dream of Beacon Hill a reality.

For many on the team, Beacon Hill represents one of the most rewarding projects of their careers and one of the most effective collaborations of their professional experience.

“The Itasca County Institute Team has been the best example of a true collaborative that I have experienced in my career. The commitment, the respect, and dedication has been a remarkable experience,” said Lorna Mix, Community Support Program Director at Northland Counseling Center.

Read the Spotlight to learn more about the team’s journey and to find out how they hope to inspire others with their story.

The Minnesota Housing Partnership recently launched our 2013-2014 Housing Institute for Greater Minnesota. The Housing Institute fosters regional collaborations and builds the capacity of communities to meet housing needs in rural Minnesota.  This year’s Housing Institute includes teams from Itasca County, Thief River Falls, and Roseau County.  Each team will work on a housing project/program over the next twelve months.

The Housing Institute is an opportunity for housing leaders to come together to share their experiences, learn best practices in housing and community development, and develop creative solutions to bring quality affordable housing to their community.  Quarterly training sessions and one-on-one technical assistance helps teams strengthen their skills to make their project a reality. The Housing Institute for Greater Minnesota is a project of the Minnesota Housing Partnership and Greater Minnesota Housing Fund.

Meet the 2013-2014 Housing Institute Teams

 Roseau County Team

Economic growth in Roseau County has caused a shortage of housing, making it difficult for businesses to recruit employees to the area.  In 2012, a local housing study identified the need for additional homeownership and rental housing opportunities within the region.  The team hopes to develop a mix of housing options; ensuring workers at every pay level have access to affordable homes.

Team Members Include:

• Todd Peterson, City of Roseau
• Pam Monsrud, City of Badger
• Jack Swanson, Roseau County Commissioner
• Anita Locken, City of Greenbush
• Glenda Phillipe, Roseau County Commissioner
• Jeff Fagerstrom, Northwest Minnesota Housing Cooperative
• Lee Meier, Northwest Multi-County HRA

Thief River Falls Team

Like in Roseau, economic growth in Thief River Falls has caused a shortage of housing, making it difficult for businesses to recruit employees to the area. In 2011, a local housing study identified the need for additional homeownership and rental housing opportunities in Thief River Falls.  The team hopes to develop the skills to support housing development in Thief River Falls and implement a communication strategy that will engage the community in the process.

Team Members Include:

• Michael Moore, City of Thief River Falls
• Dale Hahn, Thief River Falls City Council
• Maryel Anderson, Anderson Realty
• Kermit Genereux, Genereux Realty
• Leroy Flickinger, LV Contracting
• Steve Crittenden, Northland Community & Technical College
• Catherine Johnson, Inter-County Community Council
• Jeff Fagerstrom, Northwest Minnesota Housing Cooperative (Alternate)

Itasca County Team

There is a growing need for affordable housing Itasca County. The changing demographics in the region and the rise of homelessness have caused a shortage of affordable housing options.   In addition, much of the current housing stock is in need of repairs.   The Itasca County team hopes to collaborate on a project that will help homeless individuals and families access stable housing. Audrey Moen, Housing Manager at Northland Counseling Center and Itasca County Team member noted “We hope that by collaborating we will be able to develop permanent, supportive housing, creating an environment that fosters safe, affordable housing that is well integrated in the community.”

Team Members Include:

• Diane Larson, Itasca County HRA
• Amanda MacDonnell, Itasca County HRA
• Lorna Mix, Northland Counseling Center
• Audrey Moen, Northland Counseling Center
• Dana Herschbach, Kootasca Community Action
• Victor Moen, Minnesota Department of Corrections
• Jason Anderson, Minnesota Department of Corrections (Alternate)
• Sherry  Shadley, Grace House
• Ami Bolster, Grace House (Alternate)