WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, along with Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), and Tom Emmer (MN-06) announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency a grant of $6,972,739 to help low-income families and Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens, including those experiencing homelessness.
“As Minnesotans continue to deal with the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure that all residents have access to safe housing,” Klobuchar said. “This grant funding from HUD will help meet the needs of our state’s most vulnerable populations, including the homeless. I will continue working to ensure that safe and stable housing is available for all families in Minnesota.”
"Housing is the foundation for healthy families and economic opportunity in our state," Smith said. "During the coronavirus pandemic it's especially important that we take every possible step to help Minnesotans have a safe place to live. This HUD funding will help provide housing support for people who need it most. But our work can't stop here. I’ll keep pressing to help improve housing and economic opportunity in Minnesota for all communities."
“Minnesotans deserve safe homes for their families now more than ever as our local economies are deeply impacted by COVID-19,” Rep. Craig said. “In many communities across the Second District the need for safe and reliable affordable housing far exceeds the supply, I hope to see the HUD grant funding goes toward helping these hard working Minnesota families.”
“All Minnesotans deserve a safe, stable home they can afford – and never has this need been more critical than during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting crisis,” Rep. McCollum said. “I’m pleased to see this grant funding be awarded to Minnesota to help serve the housing needs of low-income and disabled people and families. The challenges we face require urgent action, and these funds will help ensure our most vulnerable populations have a roof over their heads.”
“Housing is a human right. It is shameful that thousands of Minnesotans—including children—are forced to sleep on the streets every night,” Rep. Omar said. “It is shameful that people are sleeping in tents in Powderhorn Park, and that we are unable to provide housing for them. During the coronavirus crisis, this is even more timely. I have made housing a priority for my first term and I am so proud to work with my colleagues in the Minnesota delegation to bring these resources to our state.”
“All of us have been affected by this outbreak. However, now more than ever we must ensure Minnesotans most in need of housing and rental assistance are supported,” Rep. Emmer said. “Minnesotans with disabilities and those in need of long term support and specialty housing are especially vulnerable. I am grateful to see the Administration’s investment in our state to ensure Minnesota receives the support it needs. The state’s housing finance agency, combined with charitable and non-profit housing organizations in Minnesota do outstanding work to ensure our most vulnerable are safe and supported, especially during this time.”
The grant funding from HUD will provide project-based rental assistance funding to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, located in St. Paul.
This funding is awarded through a HUD program that supports eligible state housing finance agencies (HFA’s) for extremely low-income persons with disabilities aged 18-61 and agencies that have developed methods for identifying, referring, and conducting outreach to a target population of extremely low-income persons with disabilities requiring long term services and support.
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