Pipestone County commissioners approved two housing-related agreements during their Jan. 7 organizational meeting: a pass-through agreement with Rebuilding Together Minnesota that will use state affordable housing aid, and a local homeless prevention funding agreement with the Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC).

Staff explained the Rebuilding Together statewide affordable housing aid agreement will run from Jan. 1, 2025 through 2028 and is a pass-through of state funds, not county levy money. Commissioners asked about administrative fees; staff later confirmed administrative costs in the agreement are roughly 10 percent of the grant funds. The board temporarily tabled the Rebuilding Together item earlier in the meeting to confirm administrative cost detail, then returned and approved the agreement after staff provided the clarification.

Separately, the board approved the SMOC local homeless prevention aid agreement. Staff said money allocated in 2023 was not spent before Dec. 30, 2024, and must be returned to the Minnesota Department of Revenue; the amount to be returned is $22,675. Staff reported that the county will have 2024 and 2025 funding windows that must be spent in the subsequent year (i.e., 2024 funds through the end of 2025, and 2025 funds through the end of 2026). The county will proceed with the 2024/25 agreements and the board approved the local homeless prevention agreement as presented.

Both actions were approved by unanimous voice votes. Commissioners and staff discussed oversight and the expectation that Rebuilding Together Minnesota and SMOC use the funds to repair and maintain homes and deliver local homelessness prevention services, respectively. The board asked staff to monitor administrative costs and program delivery and to report back if concerns about administrative percentages or use arise.

Ending: County staff will finalize the Rebuilding Together agreement terms and proceed with the SMOC pass-through, returning the unspent 2023 funds to the Department of Revenue and monitoring program expenditures and administrative costs going forward.