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SWING and Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing means a person doesn’t have to pay more than 30% of his/her income for housing.

The St. Joan’s Housing Ministry program offers opportunities for parishioners to do some “hands on” work to provide housing units for low income people. As someone who is all thumbs when it comes to banging nails, I wondered if there might be another way to work toward the goal of affordable housing for lower income residents in Minneapolis.  

Through SWING, the Southwest Neighborhood Interfaith Group which is working to create support for affordable housing in our neighborhoods, I learned about The Neighborhood Revitalization Program. NRP was conceived as a 20 year, $400 million program to improve the quality of life in all Minneapolis neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is allocated NRP funds according to a formula which takes into account such factors as neighborhood size, poverty, and housing. More information on NRP is available at www.nrp.org.  

Under state law, 52.5% of NRP funds are required to be spent on housing or housing-related projects. The law does NOT require that it be spent on affordable housing. Because Phase I of NRP fell short of the amount required for housing, 70% of NRP II funding must be allocated to housing. Neighborhoods are currently working on their Action Plans through their NRP Steering Committee. Neighborhoods may devise their own housing strategies or participate in the eight NRP Housing Funds already established. Fund 7 is the only fund to invest in the development of new, long-term affordable rental units. NRP Fund 7 targets mixed income projects and projects for households at or below 30% of the Metropolitan Median Income.  

With this as background information, how can I get involved?

 
• Join my Neighborhood NRP Steering Committee or its housing task force, if it has one.
• Attend neighborhood NRP meetings and speak about the need to spend some of the neighborhood’s money on affordable housing, especially for lower income households.
• Work with neighbors to create interest in and support for affordable housing.
• Respond to NRP surveys about strategies and funding priorities for Phase II NRP funds.
• Join SWING, a group which meets regularly to exchange information on housing and to plan educational events. SWING has materials and speakers available. Membership is free and open to all. For additional information about the group contact Mary Jane Mitchell at maryjanemitchell@qwest.net.

Mayor R.T. Rybak has applauded the efforts of SWING in SW Minneapolis as he named affordable housing one of his priorities. The Mayor is interested in an housing initiative to fund affordable housing along avenues such as Lyndale and Nicollet in SW Minneapolis. The South Lyndale Corridor is in my neighborhood so this is a perfect time for me to get involved.

Susan Sell is a member of the Pastoral Council serving as its Trustee. Susan is also a member of SJA's Sister Parish Committee, St. Joan's Isaiah Core Team, SJA's liason person to SWING as well as Chairperson of WomenSpirit. Susan can be reached at susanmsell@hot.mail.com.

How about you?

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