Winona County on Tuesday approved two awards from its local housing trust fund and discussed options for a smaller State Affordable Housing Aid allocation in 2025.

The board approved a recommendation to lend Habitat for Humanity of Winona County $150,000 to build two owner‑occupied homes in St. Charles and to provide Lewiston Housing Partnership $161,270 as a deferred forgivable loan to rehabilitate 12 USDA‑subsidized units in Lewiston.

Buffy Barenic, executive director of SEMSRO, told commissioners the housing trust fund was created in 2024 using state Affordable Housing Aid dollars that were transferred to the county and administered by SEMSRO for areas outside the city of Winona. She said the RFP process ran from January through March and produced three applications; the SEMSRO board recommended the two strongest applicants for approval by the county.

“Sometra recommended funding Habitat for Humanity of Winona County with a $150,000 loan for the development of two owner occupied homes in St. Charles and also funding the Lewiston Housing Partnership with a $161,270 deferred forgivable loan for the rehabilitation of 12 units,” Barenic said. The Lewiston project involves USDA‑subsidized housing; the deferred forgivable loan is structured to protect long‑term affordability and to revolve to the trust fund if the property is sold.

Commissioners asked for clarification on ownership and subsidy arrangements; presenters said the Lewiston property receives USDA project‑based rental assistance and that Centra (a local nonprofit) manages the property while Multicounty Builders is involved in construction.

Separately, staff summarized options for the county’s 2025 SAHA allocation. Finance Director Chuck Elliott told the board Winona County will receive about $57,005.88 in 2025 — a drop from prior years — and presented options including continuing to capitalize the local housing trust fund, funding health and human services projects that meet program rules, supporting transitional housing or a warming center, or partnering with existing regional housing organizations. Commissioners expressed caution about creating ongoing programs that require future county funding if SAHA declines further; several said using existing administrative infrastructure (SEM SRO/Sumsra) to manage funds is preferable to building new systems.

The board approved the two housing trust fund awards after a motion and second; commissioners asked staff to provide details on repayment terms, client counts served by the projects and follow‑up reporting.