In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature rolled out new funding to help counties, cities, and Tribal Nations expand and preserve affordable housing. The idea is simple: give local governments the resources they need to expand housing options and assist organizations committed to providing supportive housing.

These programs—Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) and Statewide Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA)—are designed to provide essential financial resources directly to local governments to develop and preserve affordable housing within their jurisdictions to prevent families from losing their homes and assist people experiencing homelessness in finding housing. LAHA, which is funded through a dedicated sales tax, goes to seven Twin Cities metro counties and 63 cities with more than 10,000 residents.

Those counties and cities can collaborate with their local housing authorities such as the CDA, which brings expertise in administering housing programs and serves as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars to ensure the dollars reach homeowners effectively and support long term housing stability. We’re especially grateful for our strong partnerships with Washington County communities in administering these funds. The Repair and Renovate program, supported by the LAHA, empowers residents by providing affordable home repair loans, helping families maintain safe and stable housing. By making critical repairs more accessible, this initiative not only improves individual homes but also fosters a vibrant and more prosperous county.

 

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