Senate committee hears bill to fund down‑payment assistance and cooperative conversions for manufactured‑home residents

St. Paul — Senator Kunish on Thursday asked the Senate Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention to back Senate File 26‑81, a bill that would provide $5 million in targeted down‑payment assistance and support cooperative conversions for manufactured‑home park residents.

"Senate file 26 81 addresses a pressing need for Minnesota's manufactured home residents by providing essential funding for down payment assistance and cooperative ownership," Kunish told the committee, saying the proposal aims to preserve affordable housing and expand resident ownership.

The bill’s supporters told the panel the money would be used as a revolving loan fund to help resident groups or nonprofits enable households to buy their lots or convert parks into resident‑owned communities. Emily Stewart, associate director of the North Country Cooperative Foundation, said Minnesota…