The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) convened recently to discuss key initiatives aimed at enhancing affordable housing and homeownership opportunities in the city. The meeting commenced with the approval of the June 2024 meeting minutes, followed by a significant resolution to reserve funds for three major housing projects.

Deputy Director Bistadu presented a resolution to reserve a total of $6.15 million for transformative housing initiatives, including $4 million for the Hams project, $2.5 million for the Gloryville project, and $650,000 for the Face to Face project. This funding aims to support affordable and supportive housing developments, with the intention of facilitating further funding requests from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). Bistadu emphasized the importance of reserving these funds to prevent delays in development and funding processes.

The board unanimously approved the resolution, demonstrating strong support for the ongoing projects, which will require additional actions in the future, including land sales and loan agreements.

In another key agenda item, the HRA authorized staff to apply for up to $2 million in grant funds from the Minnesota Housing Community Homeownership Impact Fund. This funding is intended to bolster existing down payment assistance and homeowner rehabilitation programs, which have seen increased demand. The resolution aims to clarify that the HRA will submit grant applications on behalf of the city, with the potential to assist an additional 50 families in accessing homeownership.

Commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the impact these programs could have on the community, highlighting the importance of seeking external funding sources to expand capacity and meet the growing needs of residents.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue pursuing innovative funding solutions to enhance housing opportunities in St. Paul, reflecting the authority's dedication to addressing the city's housing challenges.