Regional Affordable Housing Champions Connect Around Shared Mission

What financing and technical assistance resources are available to regional governments and organizations to ensure stable, safe and accessible housing in their communities? What strategies do local organizations use to address housing needs in the area?

Minnesota Housing and West Central Continuum of Care co-hosted the West Central Region Housing Forum, an opportunity to answer these questions and build connections in the 10-county region. The May 8 event brought nearly 100 representatives from local government, nonprofits and developers to the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. This is one in an occasional series of regional housing forums organized by Minnesota Housing.

"We all know that the creation and preservation of affordable rental properties and single-family homes does not happen by itself. We're here to listen to you, to better understand the challenges you face when it comes to housing,” said Alyssa Wetzel-Moore, Community Development Director at Minnesota Housing, in her welcome. 

Carla Solem, West Central Continuum of Care Coordinator, shared an overview of the region's housing needs and attendees had opportunities to connect throughout the day about their housing priorities and challenges.

Technical assistance and financing support regional efforts

Each community has different housing needs and different capacity to secure funding for housing projects. A morning panel addressed these varying needs, highlighting the significant technical assistance and pre-development resources available in the area.

Representatives from five organizations shared resources:

• Minnesota Housing Partnership
• Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
• Corporation for Supportive Housing
• USDA - Rural Development
• Minnesota Housing

Find presentation slides and links to relevant resources.

Local community development panel highlights strategies for success

An afternoon panel featured Clay County Housing & Redevelopment Authority Board staff, members of the county's Consumer Advisory Board, an affordable housing developer and a local service provider to share lessons for success in affordable housing development.

• Communication helps build community support. Regular communication and updates with local and county government and neighbors are opportunities to highlight the benefits of affordable housing and address concerns early. Likewise, listening to incorporate feedback helps build trust.
• Engage people with lived experience in decision-making. County Consumer Advisory Board members highlighted ways their lived experience helped ensure a new supportive housing development included features that better meet residents’ needs, like outdoor storage space for bikes. 

You don't need to try and be everything to everyone [as a supportive housing provider]. For every NIMBY there is someone who wants to step in and help.– Hannah Young, Churches United for the Homeless

Thank you to our partners

• Co-sponsor: West Central Minnesota Continuum of Care
• Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
• Minnesota Housing Partnership
• USDA Rural Development
• West Central Initiative Foundation

Learn more

• Get all the West Central Region Housing Forum resources and slides
• Interested in holding a regional housing forum in your area? Email Alyssa Wetzel-Moore, Community Development Director
• To learn about future regional forums, sign up for the Agency newsletter (select General News).