Hennepin County Approves $19 Million for Affordable Housing Initiatives

Hennepin County’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority has approved approximately $19.2 million in funding across five programs aimed at creating or preserving 1,400 affordable housing units. The decision was reported by MinnPost’s Twin Cities Documenters program, which trains community members to monitor local government meetings. Staff noted that funding requests exceeded available resources by more than double, highlighting high demand. The package includes $1.4 million from a new Local Affordable Housing Aid source. Commissioners praised the strategic mix of housing types and the focus on preservation to prevent loss of affordable status. Additionally, the Authority approved the sale of three long-vacant county-owned properties in North Minneapolis to a developer, coordinating with the city to activate the area near Lowry and Penn Avenues. Other committee actions included extending a mental health training contract for the Sheriff’s office and updating the Department of Community Corrections’ comprehensive plan. A proposal for a new community service award was also sent to the full board for final consideration. These committee actions are scheduled for a final vote by the full Hennepin County Board on May 19.