Saint Paul Public Housing asks legislature for $20 million to preserve 418 deeply affordable homes

The Housing Finance & Policy Committee heard from Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (SPPHA) on House File 3064, which requests a one-time $20 million Minnesota Housing grant to preserve and repair deeply affordable scattered-site public housing.

Louise EPA, executive director of the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency, told the committee the agency manages approximately 418 low-income public housing units and is seeking a $20 million appropriation to address a roughly $44 million capital needs backlog. She described the portfolio as aging (average age cited around 68 years) and said preservation is far more cost‑effective than replacement: SPPHA estimated preservation at about $48,000 per unit versus an estimated $448,000 per unit to replace.

EPA said these properties collectively have an estimated market value of about $100 million and bring roughly $2.6 million in federal funding annually. The requested funds would be used for critical repairs—roofs, siding, windows, mechanical systems, interior work and accessibility improvements—to keep units affordable and habitable.

Committee members asked about the role of a nonprofit subsidiary and procurement. SPPHA explained the subsidiary is a wholly owned nonprofit established to pursue HUD repositioning strategies and that rehabilitation work would still follow competitive RFP and procurement rules.

Members voiced support and noted chronic federal underfunding of public housing. House File 3064, as amended, was laid over for further consideration.