Sandie Hayes found her way out of a homeless shelter and into one of 30-subsidized units in the Solace Apartments in St. Peter in 2019.
The new setting provided the kind of housing stability her life was sorely missing. It helped Hayes escape a troubled relationship and aided in her pursuit of sobriety. She could easily tap into supportive services, including on-site Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and connection to mental health offerings.
Im alone now. I love myself. And Im not in a toxic relationship anymore, Hayes recounted recently. If I didnt have housing like Solace, that wouldnt happen for me.
Hayes shared those personal details with Minnesota lawmakers, who are searching for ways to replicate the success story.
Whether its people trying to get back on their feet or its companies struggling to expand because there are few places for workers to live, affordable housing is in critical demand.
Minnesota Housing, a state agency, estimated last year that more than 550,000 households devoted at least 30 percent of their income sometimes much more to housing. That benchmark is one measure of housing insecurity.
Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul and the chair of a legislative housing committee, said the problem has only grown more acute over the past year.
Housing was already a crisis. It has become even greater since the pandemic and jobs that were lost and people who are one paycheck away from not being able to pay their bills, Hausman said.
Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake and head of a Senate housing panel, hears much the same.
When I travel the state, thats the number one thing I hear from chambers and business people is they dont have enough affordable housing, Draheim said. They have a hard time attracting people because they cant find anywhere that is affordable.
A 2018 Housing Task Force estimated the need for 300,000 new housing units in Minnesota by 2030. While that figure covers all types and price points, the task force found the most significant need was for places where low-income families could call home.
Legislators from both parties are pushing bills to address the lagging stock of emergency shelter space, adequate multi-family housing at affordable rents and availability of entry-level, single-family homes.
Proposals range from increased assistance for rent or mortgage to state borrowing toward new housing development and building rehab projects.
Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake is head of a Senate housing panel.
Draheim has introduced legislation to redefine how Minnesota Housing chooses projects for funding. Under his proposal, state officials would prioritize projects that are ready to build over future planned projects. Minnesota Housing would also have a cost-per-unit spending cap where projects that cost more than the median cost of a house in the community where that project is being built wouldn't get funding.
"The premise of the bill is 'What can we do to get more housing units overall?'" Draheim told lawmakers Tuesday at a Senate Housing Policy and Finance Committee hearing.
Draheim would also like to see more state money divvied up throughout the state. His proposal includes stipulations that housing funding be split by congressional districts throughout the state.
Housing advocates and state officials agree with Draheim's premise, but several organizations took issue with the senator's proposal, fearing it would have unintended consequences and could make some Greater Minnesota projects more expensive.
Draheim told lawmakers he was willing to work with other groups to provide different language or exceptions as needed, but he would like to see the agency concentrate on getting as many housing units built as possible.
He said after the hearing that his proposal is meant to spur more action on the agency's part to address housing shortages, but the state needs to start tackling the problem with new approaches.
"I think this is a logical step in trying to use these resources the best that we can," he said.
Lawmakers are hearing from civic leaders, business owners and housing specialists from across the state Alexandria, Grand Rapids, St. Peter and beyond. Thats probably by design.
Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, said it highlights how substantial the statewide need is. She chairs a House committee focused on combating homelessness.
Housing supply and affordability impact every single community across Minnesota, Gomez said. And I know were going to have to continue to beat that drum because there is this sort of mistaken impression that it just impacts the urban core.
Take Roseau as an example.
Todd Peterson, community development coordinator in the far northwestern Minnesota city, said there are seldom vacancies in its affordable housing stock a chronic problem he says has made it tough for the industrial area to fill job openings.
We just dont have the housing to house those people we need to bring in to work at those jobs, Peterson said. Weve tapped out our labor force and without additional housing we just cant move forward.
Dedicated workforce housing grants are among several proposals in the mix. Measures pushed by Gov. Tim Walz include $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds to foster more supportive housing, senior housing and manufactured home parks.
Since 2012, lawmakers have authorized $415 million in housing bonds that have supported $775 million in total development when local and private money is factored in. Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho says the return on investment is strong.
Thats jobs. Thats economic development. Thats getting people to work, Ho said. And its also creating or preserving over 4,700 units.
Program skeptics say the cost-per-unit is too high.
The reasons are many: The prices of lumber and other construction supplies are up. There are permit fees that builders say drive up their costs. Many government-subsidized projects come with wage requirements for construction crews.
Were chasing perfection with the cost of building a new home or a new unit, Draheim said.
He said the debate shouldnt be limited to how much the state antes up.
We have to look at zoning, energy code, building code, density, he said.
The housing construction discussion could get tangled in the brewing debate over what to do about evictions once a COVID-19-prompted moratorium goes away.
Key lawmakers say they hope to keep the two separate, but that might not be possible as the session goes on.
Mankato Free Press Staff Writer Trey Mewes contributed to this story.
We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.
Read the original post:
Drive for low-cost housing finds bipartisan buy-in - Mankato Free Press
- 3 Manufactured Homes REITs With Yields Up to 5.6% and Track Records of Dividend Growth - Yahoo Finance - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- AG obtains victory for manufactured housing residents | State | coastalpoint.com - Coastal Point - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Manufactured homes for 55+ buyers in York County - Press Herald - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Over $800k in Penalties for Lincoln Manufactured Home Community Owner - WBOC TV 16 - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- City Council Offers Resolution in Support of Manufactured Housing Residents - City of North Liberty - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- With Gilbert Foundation funding, 9 manufactured homes coming to North Corktown - Urbanize LA - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Back to Business: Aiken Housing Center offers affordable housing options - The Post and Courier - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Affordable manufactured housing community coming to Crosby - Houston Agent Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- ECN Capital finds new backer for manufactured homes business - The Globe and Mail - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- How Mobile Home Owners Organize for Land Ownership and Climate Resiliency - Non Profit News - Nonprofit Quarterly - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- What are manufactured homes? | Homes and housing - Queensland - December 30th, 2022 [December 30th, 2022]
- Clayton CrossMod Home Displayed at Museum Highlights Manufactured Housing Innovations Over the Years - PR Newswire - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- Legacy Housing Corporation Provides Update on Delayed SEC Filings and Guidance for the First Half of 2022 - GlobeNewswire - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- Letters to the Index-Tribune editor, Aug. 19, 2022 - Sonoma Index-Tribune - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- Prefab Accessory Dwelling Units are coming to the North Bay - Napa Valley Register - June 12th, 2022 [June 12th, 2022]
- New laws will invest $45M into housing - Addison County Independent - June 12th, 2022 [June 12th, 2022]
- Legacy Housing Corporation Announces Appointment of Duncan Bates as President and Chief Executive Officer - GlobeNewswire - June 12th, 2022 [June 12th, 2022]
- Gaylord: A community comes together - Second Wave Media - June 12th, 2022 [June 12th, 2022]
- At home, do you know where your safe spot is? | Severe Weather Awareness Week - WTOL - March 29th, 2022 [March 29th, 2022]
- Rentals at a premium in Macomb County and metro area - The Macomb Daily - March 29th, 2022 [March 29th, 2022]
- Officials in tornado-weary Jarrell relieved property damage was worst of Monday twister - Austin American-Statesman - March 29th, 2022 [March 29th, 2022]
- What's Driving the Move to Off-Site Construction in Home Building? | Pro - Pro Builder - March 29th, 2022 [March 29th, 2022]
- Property tax bills start landing in mailboxes this week - Canton Repository - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Where Are New Co-ops Emerging? The Changing Map of Co-op Development - Non Profit News - Nonprofit Quarterly - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- High-end mobile home parks may become part of the St. George landscape - KSL.com - November 4th, 2021 [November 4th, 2021]
- Paid Advertisement: Oaks of Kokomo brings home ownership options to community - Kokomo Perspective - November 4th, 2021 [November 4th, 2021]
- 2022 Biloxi Manufactured Housing Show: Registration and Housing Now Open - PRNewswire - November 4th, 2021 [November 4th, 2021]
- The Best Mobile Home Movers of 2021 - BobVila.com - November 4th, 2021 [November 4th, 2021]
- Farmworker housing initiative fell short of ambitious goal - Point Reyes Light - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- At least 63 people have died in Oregon heatwave - PennLive - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Elon Musk lives in a prefab "house" next to the SpaceX base for which he pays $250 a month. - Amico Hoops - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- CL broker points to his history in winning award - The Friday Flyer - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- A year after Sitka made space for tiny homes, no one is building them - KCAW - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Little homes in the valley | Local News | lagrandeobserver.com - La Grande Observer - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Are tornadoes moving from the plains to the South and Louisiana? Not likely, experts say - The Advocate - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Pandemic Vacation: What We Learned Driving 1,100 Miles in an RV - Bloomberg - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Mother who survived Orange mass shooting but lost two children leaves hospital - Los Angeles Times - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- North Carolina: Severe weather threatens Piedmont Triad - WXII12 Winston-Salem - WXII12 Winston-Salem - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Seattle 'Mobile Vaccination Teams' to target young adults at breweries, outdoor dining areas, parks, and beaches - CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Residents of an East Portland Mobile Home Park Were Told to Get Lost, in the Middle of a Pandemic - Willamette Week - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Should NH require towns to allow tiny houses? - Manchester Ink Link - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Bill would expand rights of mobile home park tenants after years of complaints - telegraphherald.com - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Manufactured Housing Market to Eyewitness Massive Growth by 2026 | Crest Homes, Kent Homes, Titan Express Keeper - Express Keeper - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Drive for low-cost housing finds bipartisan buy-in - Southernminn.com - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Symposium on expanding shared equity housing highlights innovations and best practices in community-owned land - GlobeNewswire - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- MV Interpretive Center expands its scope - Methow Valley News - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Latest Study explores the Manufactured Homes, Modular Homes, and Mobile Homes Ma - GroundAlerts.com - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Why Mobile Home Park Investments Will Thrive in 2021 - Yahoo Finance - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Getting your home ready for the freezing weather - KAMR - MyHighPlains.com - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Manufactured housing units being built in Oregon as temporary housing for fire victims - Wildfire Today - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Outlook on the Manufactured Housing Global Market to 2027 - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast - Yahoo Finance - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Global Manufactured Housing Market (2020 to 2027) - by Number of Section, Location and Application - GlobeNewswire - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Two Manufactured Homes and an RV Destroyed in Fire - Redheaded Blackbelt - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- FEMA Site Will House Survivors of Wildfires - The Skanner - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- 5 killed in 3 fires in 1 day in Wisconsin; 3 of them children - FOX 6 Milwaukee - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- A united community demands public water in area near former Grumman site but Navy shows no sign of budging - RiverheadLOCAL - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Skyward Specialty Insurance Group Announces the Acquisition of Aegis Surety and Sale of Its XPro Business, Both With K2 Insurance Services - Business... - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Widespread vaccinations for COVID-19 coronavirus in Cleveland a long way off because of short supplies - cleveland.com - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- US Bedding owner: New site in Fall River Sam's Club could create 100 new jobs - Fall River Herald News - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- India pushes COVID shots in two-pronged effort at home and abroad - Nikkei Asia - January 25th, 2021 [January 25th, 2021]
- Manufactured housing as a solution to affordable housing crisis - Seacoastonline.com - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: Mid-America Apartment Communities, American Homes 4 Rent and Preferred Apartment Communities and RealPage - Yahoo... - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Residential property assessments increase overall in Houston - Houston Today - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Notice of Public Hearing | Legal Announcements | newsadvance.com - Lynchburg News and Advance - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Plantation Oaks amendments to be heard next week - Ormond Beach Observer - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Could you live in this 330-square-foot pod apartment? - BetaBoston - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- What To Watch In Traverse City In 2021 - Traverse City Ticker - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Severe weather possible New Year's Eve in Tuscaloosa area - Tuscaloosa Magazine - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Host's Formula Can't Be Copied By Other Coronavirus Horror Movies In 2021 - Screen Rant - January 3rd, 2021 [January 3rd, 2021]
- Funding boosts Highland housing - Finance and Commerce - December 23rd, 2020 [December 23rd, 2020]
- Dozens of permits completed in November | Your Valley - Your Valley - December 23rd, 2020 [December 23rd, 2020]
- What is the Market's View on UMH Properties, Inc (UMH) Stock's Price and Volume Trends - InvestorsObserver - December 23rd, 2020 [December 23rd, 2020]
- TDEC Welcomes Clayton Homes of Bean Station Into Green Star Partnership - tn.gov - December 18th, 2020 [December 18th, 2020]
- Bill Gates-backed electric car battery startup is on the cusp of changing the industry - Report Door - December 18th, 2020 [December 18th, 2020]
- The Fed just pretty much guaranteed that mortgage rates will stay low - Report Door - December 18th, 2020 [December 18th, 2020]
- Esports Entertainment Pushes Further Into Sports Betting, iGaming With Acquisition - Report Door - December 18th, 2020 [December 18th, 2020]
- Comprehensive Analysis on Manufactured Homes Market based on types and applicati - News.MarketSizeForecasters.com - December 4th, 2020 [December 4th, 2020]
- Select Board addressing problem of seasonal occupants staying year round - SouthCoastToday.com - December 4th, 2020 [December 4th, 2020]
- HHS Secretary Azar: Millions Of Covid-19 Vaccines Are Being Manufactured Each Week - Forbes - December 4th, 2020 [December 4th, 2020]
- Manufactured Housing Market Expansion Projected to Gain an Uptick During 2020-2027 - The Haitian-Caribbean News Network - December 4th, 2020 [December 4th, 2020]