Minneapolis Public Housing Authority

Tomorrow, MPHA will be opening its family housing waitlist for the first time in 3 years. This is an opportunity MPHA staff want to be sure you and your network are aware of as the agency’s deeply affordable family housing is the most sought-after type of housing and is a proven tool to provide families upward economic mobility. MPHA will be accepting applications for three-, four-, and five-bedroom units, adding an estimated 1,500 individuals to its waitlist.     To apply to be added to MPHA’s family housing waitlist, qualified applicants must apply between 8am on Thursday, October 10, 2024 and 12pm (noon) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Applications will only be accepted through MPHA’s online portal at portal.mphaonline.org.     Applicants may complete the application from any computer or device with internet access anytime during the open period. MPHA also has kiosks and staff to help at 1001 Washington Ave N. during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm).     Following the open period for new applications, MPHA staff will conduct a lottery-style selection process in October to add ~1,500 individuals to the agency’s family housing waiting list. It is important to note that applying to the agency’s family housing waiting list during the open period does not guarantee the applicant a spot. Rather, it enters their application into a lottery for a chance to be added to the waiting list. There is no advantage to applying early.    Applicants needing assistance completing the application or applicants who need a reasonable accommodation, free language assistance, or who require the information in an alternative format, are encouraged to submit a request in advance of the waitlist opening via email at MPHAapplication@mplspha.org or call 612-342-1438. Any requests for special accommodation must be received by no later than 12pm (noon) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.    Learn more about MPHA’s most sought-after type of housing and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gKhSdzjV

Last week, MPHA’s team was recognized with numerous awards during the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)’s 2024 National Conference in Orlando. The agency’s Family Housing Expansion Project (FHEP) earned an Award of Merit and MPHA ED/CEO Abdi Warsame was named NAHRO’s Outstanding Professional of the Year. These awards are just the latest in a series of honors and recognition the agency has received this year for its incredible work: bit.ly/AgencyAwards2024

Last week, MPHA Deputy ED Dominic Mitchell joined Woda Cooper Companies, Inc., Project for Pride in Living (PPL), City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota Housing, and others in celebrating the grand opening of Shelby Commons. The 46-unit affordable housing development will serve households earning 30-80% of the area median income (AMI), with 12 of the units being supported by MPHA’s project-based vouchers.     Since 2019, MPHA project-based vouchers have accounted for more than half of all deeply affordable housing built in Minneapolis. MPHA is committed to this important work, with the goal of helping produce at least 150 new deeply affordable homes in Minneapolis a year. 

At 8am on Thursday, October 10, MPHA will be opening its family housing waitlist for three-, four-, and five-bedroom units, looking to add an estimated 1,500 families to its waitlist. This is the first time in 3 years MPHA has opened this waiting list. The agency’s deeply affordable family housing is the most sought-after type of housing and is a proven tool to provide families upward economic mobility. To apply to be added to MPHA’s family housing waitlist, qualified applicants apply between 8am on Thursday, October 10, 2024 and 12pm (noon) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Applications will only be accepted through MPHA’s online portal at portal.mphaonline.org. Applicants may complete the application from any computer or device with internet access anytime during the open period. MPHA also has kiosks and staff to help at 1001 Washington Ave N. during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm). It is important to note that applying to the agency’s family housing waiting list during the open period does not guarantee the applicant a spot. Rather, it enters their application into a lottery for a chance to be added to the waiting list. There is no advantage to applying early. Learn more about MPHA’s most sought-after type of housing and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gKhSdzjV

This morning, MPHA’s CEO/ED Abdi Warsame was named Outstanding Professional of the Year by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)! Abdi is the first Minnesotan to ever win this award. In his time as CEO, Abdi has helped lead the successful efforts to secure unprecedented levels of state and local capital funding support for the agency. This has included securing the funding necessary to install fire suppression systems in all 42 MPHA high-rises, securing a first-of-its-kind $5 million direct appropriation from the state legislature in its biannual budget, and resuscitating a long-dormant housing tax levy in Minneapolis at $5 million a year, the largest ever in the city’s history. The Outstanding Professional of the Year Award is NAHRO’s highest and most prestigious award given to honor an exceptionally qualified person who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of life through service in the field of housing or community development. Recent recipients include Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Adrianne Todman, prior to her appointment when she served as Executive Director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority.

Yesterday, MPHA’s Family Housing Expansion Project (FHEP) was awarded National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)'s 2024 Award of Merit! 🎉As the largest new-unit project development in more than two decades, MPHA staff are thrilled to see the project recognized. Using modular construction and leveraging unique partnerships in a first-of-its-kind project, FHEP brings 84 new, deeply affordable family homes to 16 sites across Minneapolis. FHEP continues to win local and national awards for its innovative approach to tackling the affordable housing crisis: Bit.ly/CelebrateFHEP

As the school year begins, teachers and school social workers are reminded of the toll housing instability can have on students—students’ school attendance and academic performance can be negatively impacted. That’s where Stable Homes Stable Schools comes in. The innovative partnership between MPHA, City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, and YMCA of the North addresses homelessness among Minneapolis Public Schools students’ families. The SHSS program addresses homelessness among Minneapolis Public Schools students’ families through various levels of support: emergency short-term assistance, multi-year rental assistance, and case management. For more than 1,900 families and 4,500 children —like Shantel’s—SHSS has been a lifeline. Read about its impact: bit.ly/2024SHSS

Members of the Highrise Health Alliance are honored to be a part the Minnesota Department of Health’s upcoming Equity Week presenting on their successful model that centers community. The Highrise Health Alliance is a partnership between MPHA, City of Minneapolis Health Department, and others working to improve the health outcomes of MPHA’s high-rise residents.

Yesterday, Mary Boler received the Allan Anderson Award of Merit from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). As the Director of Operations for the agency’s public housing department, Mary has been a driving force in the agency’s success over the last 30 years. This recognition can largely be credited to the work Mary has done overhauling the agency’s public housing operations to deliver high-quality homes to MPHA residents. Under Mary’s leadership in this role, key changes include reducing the agency’s unit turnover time by more than half, crafting a proactive strategy to achieve and sustain 98 percent occupancy, developing policies that led to consecutive years with clean audits, attaining and maintaining HUD’s “high performer” designation, developing and implementing Moving To Work (MTW) initiatives to help families become self-sufficient, and implementing a department reorganization that enabled MPHA to receive a significant increase in funds. This lifetime of achievement was encapsulated last year when MPHA earned a near-perfect 98.5 percent in the physical inspection segment of HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS). This was the highest PHAS physical inspection score in MPHA’s history, and it’s a direct result of Mary’s leadership. Read more: bit.ly/MaryBolerAward 

Yesterday, MPHA brought Housing Choice Voucher participants another RentWise event. 🏡✨ From practical tips to future planning strategies for long-term housing goals, RentWise provides all you need to become a successful renter!