Edina HRA approves $300,000 advance to VEP to expand emergency rental assistance

The Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority voted March 5 to amend a grant agreement and forward-commit $300,000 from the city’s anticipated 2026 Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAA) allocation to VEP so the nonprofit can begin providing emergency rental assistance immediately.

Stephanie Hawinson, the city’s affordable housing development manager, told commissioners that Operation Metro Surge and recent immigration enforcement activity have created urgent housing instability and that prior LAA awards have already been largely expended. “Emergency rental assistance is the most effective tool we have to keep people housed, maintain community stability, and prevent homelessness,” Hawinson said, explaining staff’s recommendation that VEP temporarily draw on unspent 2025 funds designated for the affordable ownership preservation program and be reimbursed when 2026 LAA funds arrive in July.

The recommendation follows an August 2025 award of $200,000 from the city’s LAA for emergency rental assistance; Hawinson said those funds were largely spent sooner than expected. Carrie Thompson, executive director of VEP, said the agency has used that allocation to help 61 Edina households and that roughly $8,000 remained for rental assistance at the time of the meeting. “We can do the eligibility screenings, speak with the landlords, and make that happen quickly and efficiently,” Thompson said, describing phone-based eligibility screening, landlord negotiation, and fraud safeguards the agency uses.

Commissioners asked how the proposed forward-commitment would work in practice and whether the transfer would change the city’s overall funding level. Hawinson said the action is a forward commitment of 2026 funds; VEP would draw from unspent 2025 funds now and the city would reimburse the ownership-preservation account once 2026 LAA dollars are available. Staff noted there was about $800,000 in the account that had not yet been drawn, providing some buffer while demand is monitored.

Commissioner Mercer and others raised concerns about whether the $300,000 would be sufficient through July and asked staff to identify a trigger point for returning to the HRA if demand remains high. Hawinson said she and VEP check in regularly and would return to the HRA if funds looked low in May or June.

Commissioner Jackson moved to amend the VEP grant agreement to increase funding by $300,000 for emergency rental assistance; Commissioner Agnu seconded. The motion passed by voice vote and the Chair directed staff to implement the amended grant agreement so VEP can expedite assistance.

The HRA’s action sends immediate support to a local nonprofit already serving households affected by recent enforcement activity and directs staff to monitor fund levels and report back if additional assistance is needed.