More than $3 million in grants throughout state for investments in affordable housing and community development

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced seven separate NeighborWorks grants totaling $3,104,000 for community organizations throughout Minnesota.

The grants will help more Minnesota families realize their dream of owning a home, increase access to affordable rental units, provide needed financial and counseling services to households throughout the state, and support the repair or rehabilitation of existing homes.

Last year, NeighborWorks—affiliated community development organizations in Minnesota provided these services to more than 18,300 households.

“The availability of affordable housing – housing that a family can fit in their budget – is one of the most important issues for families,” Klobuchar said. “These grants will help communities across Minnesota build and maintain reliable, affordable housing options for residents, and provide relief to Minnesotans who are still facing higher housing costs than they can handle.”

“Research has shown that a lack of an affordable, stable place to live makes it harder to find employment, maintain financial stability, succeed in school, and sustain healthy living,” Smith said. “The Neighbor Works grants are so important because they are investments in local organizations that work on the front lines every single day to provide affordable housing to those who need it.”

Among those receiving grants was One Roof Community Housing of Duluth who was awarded $269,500.

One Roof Community Housing currently has two projects in Cook County, the 10-unit single-family homeownership project in Grand Marais, called “Nordic Star”, and the four (4) quad-plexes for a total of 16 rental units in Lutsen.

When contacted about the award, Jeff Corey, the new executive director of One Roof Housing said, “The funding award is from NeighborWorks America. We are an affiliated NeighborWorks organization and as such receive a share of funding appropriated by Congress each year to support our work.

“Typically, we utilize this funding to pay for homebuyer education, lending, and administration work at One Roof and not for capital or development uses, and that is how we have budgeted the funds this year.”