MHP's Continues Work Near Alaska's Prince William Sound

MHP's Community Development team and the Prince William Sound Economic Development District (PWSEDD) have recently began the process of collaborating with McKinley Research Group—an Alaska-based research firm—to conduct a regional housing needs assessment for the Prince William Sound region. The district includes cities of Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier, and Native Villages of Eyak and Tatitlek. There is a severe shortage of housing in all of the communities of the region, given the specific challenges around topography and accessibility, cost of construction and materials, and lack of developers and contractors. MHP is providing financial support to help offset the cost of the initial Housing Needs Assessment. Once completed, MHP staff will assist regional partners in development of a housing action plan (HAP), with specific strategies to address housing development needs in each community. MHP will provide remote and in-person technical assistance for this planning by creating engagement tools and supporting outreach strategies such as community surveys, stakeholder interviews, and public town halls hosted during the summer of 2023. 

Members of the first EDI cohort pose for a photo at regional housing workshop in Bemidji, MN   

MHP's First Emerging Developer Initiative Cohort Concludes Work Together

Last week folks gathered for a regional housing and community development workshop in Bemidji, Minnesota. Attendees had the opportunity to; hear from local housing leaders and learn about specific development opportunities in the area.

This workshop also marked the conclusion of the first iteration of MHP's Emerging Developer Initiative (EDI), which was created to support the emergence and professional development of new housing developers from rural communities and Native Nations in Northwest Minnesota. This first cohort saw 7 individuals complete the program, 6 of whom were people of color.

MHP Investor Council's Social Hour

Last week, the MHP Investor Council came together for a social hour at Bridgewater Bank's corporate offices to celebrate the big wins for housing this legislative session.

From Left: Anne Mavity, MHP; Warren Hanson, GMHF.  We raised a glass to toast Warren's illustrious career as he nears retirement

MN House Housing Chair Rep. Michael Howard addresses the room and recaps how the final housing bill came to be.

From Left: Trent Bowman, Bremer Bank; Libby Murphy, MHP Director of Policy, Timothy Buck, Bremer Bank.

We gathered with housing advocates from a variety of sectors to celebrate 2023's housing wins.  

Join the Campaign to Put Housing on the Ballot!

Barrett Family, Landfall MN

Our Future Starts at Home is driving the movement for an amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution to dedicate sustainable, predictable, and ongoing funding to real solutions to our housing crisis statewide.

We are already making efforts to build support and include statewide voices to the Campaign with visits to St. Cloud, Duluth, and Rochester. Keep an eye out for emails regarding Campaign activities this summer! Let’s grow the campaign together so that all Minnesotans, no matter what we look like, where we are from, what is our income or language—we all deserve healthy home and better futures!

ourhomesmn.org

New Report from MHP: Emergency Rental Assistance During The COVID-19 Pandemic

MHP has recently published a new report, Emergency Rental Assistance During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings And Recommendations for Preventing Evictions And Rental Arrears. The report reviews the impact of federally-funded emergency rental assistance (ERA) in Minnesota.

NLIHC Releases 2023 Out of Reach Report

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has released their annual Out of Reach report. Out of Reach 2023: The High Cost of Housing highlights the gulf between the wages people earn and the price of modest rental housing in every state, county, metropolitan area, and combined non-metropolitan area in the US. 

Debt Ceiling Agreement Caps Spending for Two Years

Congress has passed, and President Bidan signed, the “Fiscal Responsibility Act,” an agreement to lift the federal debt ceiling until 2025 in exchange for capping federal spending programs at fiscal year (FY) 2023 levels in FY2024 and allowing an only 1% increase in spending in FY2025. In addition, the bill rescinds some unspent COVID-19 relief funds.  HUD and USDA housing programs will see negative impacts from the clawback of funds. As well, since housing 

programs have increased costs each year to provide the same services, flat funding will result in cuts to many USDA and HUD programs. Contact your member of Congress to let them know the importance of increased funding for housing programs! 

FHFA Requests Input on Multifamily Tenant Protections

On May 30th, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), has solicited input on tenant protections for multifamily properties with federally backed mortgages. The goals of FHFA's request for input are to collect information that highlights tenants’ experiences and stakeholders’ perspectives; and solicit ideas for improved data collection to better quantify the size and scope of the issues identified by tenants.

The IRS Proposes Rule Related to Solar and Wind Capacity Limits

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published proposed regulations, describing proposed definitions and requirements related to the allocation of environmental justice solar and wind capacity limitation. 

with MHP's Aaron Johnson

Q1. Who are you? 

Aaron Johnson (he/him), Community Development Associate

Q2. What attracted you to working with MHP?

MHP’s mission of providing affordable and equitable housing is aligned with my own values and vision for the world. I believe housing is a human right and a pillar of thriving communities, so I’m energized by MHP’s commitment to these issues, and to centering those who have been most impacted by economic and racial disparities. I was also drawn to the systems change approach that MHP takes to this work. Given the many facets of these issues, it will take an equally comprehensive approach that combines the areas that MHP works in, such as research, advocacy, and community development.

Q3. What’s a challenge in the field of housing right now?

The complexity of housing – on economic, cultural, and political levels – makes it difficult for many folks to know where and how to enact effective, positive change. Through education, capacity-building, and the creation of local networks (such as through the Institute model), the “how” and “why” of the issues facing our communities will become clearer, as will actions to help solve their unique challenges.

Q4. Is there a book by your bed, and what is it?

Yes! I am currently reading Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi and All About Love by bell hooks. Next up is The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs.

Q5. Who is your superhero?

My grandparents. They are and were extremely hard workers, dedicated to music, family, and their church community, and they created an impactful legacy. I aspire to their level of tenacity, commitment to what they love, and connection to their communities.

MHP Staff Gathers for Semiannual Staff Retreat 

Last week MHP staff gathered in Minneapolis for a semiannual retreat. Colleagues shared food, played team-building games (and, admittedly, competitive ones too), and continued the important tasks of developing MHP’s next strategic plan and working towards being an anti-racist organization. Thank you to 5 by 5 Design for helping to facilitate.

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