Minnesota Legislature
HF 3210
as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/10/2022 02:06pm
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A bill for an act
relating to housing; expanding existing programs to provide homelessness
prevention assistance to families with minor children; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 462A.201, subdivision 2; 462A.204,
subdivision 8.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 462A.201, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Low-income housing.
(a) The agency may use money from the housing trust
fund account to provide loans or grants for:
(1) projects for the development, construction, acquisition, preservation, and rehabilitation
of low-income rental and limited equity cooperative housing units, including temporary
and transitional housing;
(2) the costs of operating rental housing, as determined by the agency, that are unique
to the operation of low-income rental housing or supportive housing;
(3) rental assistance, either project-based or tenant-based; and
(4) programs to secure stable housing for families withnew text begin minornew text end children deleted text begin eligible for
enrollment in a prekindergarten through grade 12 academic programdeleted text end .
For purposes of this section, "transitional housing" has the meaning given by the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Loans or grants for residential
housing for migrant farmworkers may be made under this section.
(b) The housing trust fund account must be used for the benefit of persons and families
whose income, at the time of initial occupancy, does not exceed 60 percent of median income
as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the
metropolitan area. At least 75 percent of the funds in the housing trust fund account must
be used for the benefit of persons and families whose income, at the time of initial occupancy,
does not exceed 30 percent of the median family income for the metropolitan area as defined
in section 473.121, subdivision 2. For purposes of this section, a household with a housing
assistance voucher under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended,
is deemed to meet the income requirements of this section.
The median family income may be adjusted for families of five or more.
(c) Rental assistance under this section must be provided by governmental units which
administer housing assistance supplements or by for-profit or nonprofit organizations
experienced in housing management. Rental assistance shall be limited to households whose
income at the time of initial receipt of rental assistance does not exceed 60 percent of median
income, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
for the metropolitan area. Priority among comparable applications for tenant-based rental
assistance will be given to proposals that will serve households whose income at the time
of initial application for rental assistance does not exceed 30 percent of median income, as
determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the
metropolitan area. Rental assistance must be terminated when it is determined that 30 percent
of a household's monthly income for four consecutive months equals or exceeds the market
rent for the unit in which the household resides plus utilities for which the tenant is
responsible. Rental assistance may only be used for rental housing units that meet the housing
maintenance code of the local unit of government in which the unit is located, if such a code
has been adopted, or the housing quality standards adopted by the United States Department
of Housing and Urban Development, if no local housing maintenance code has been adopted.
(d) In making the loans or grants, the agency shall determine the terms and conditions
of repayment and the appropriate security, if any, should repayment be required. To promote
the geographic distribution of grants and loans, the agency may designate a portion of the
grant or loan awards to be set aside for projects located in specified congressional districts
or other geographical regions specified by the agency. The agency may adopt rules for
awarding grants and loans under this subdivision.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 462A.204, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8.
deleted text begin Schooldeleted text end Stabilitynew text begin for learning and developmentnew text end .
(a) The agency in consultation
with the Interagency Council on Homelessness may establish a deleted text begin schooldeleted text end new text begin childhood housingnew text end
stability project under the family homeless prevention and assistance program. The purpose
of the project is to secure stable housing for families with deleted text begin school-agedeleted text end new text begin minornew text end children who
have moved frequently and for unaccompanied youth. For purposes of this subdivision,
"unaccompanied youth" are minors who are leaving foster care or juvenile correctional
facilities, or minors who meet the definition of a child in need of services or protection
under section 260C.007, subdivision 6, but for whom no court finding has been made
pursuant to that statute.
(b) The agency shall make grants to family homeless prevention and assistance projects
in communities with a school or schools that have a significant degree of student mobilitynew text begin
or in communities with a significant degree of homelessness among families with minor
childrennew text end .
(c) Each project must be designed to reduce school absenteeism; stabilize children in
one home setting or, at a minimum, in one school setting; and reduce shelter usage. Each
project must include plans for the following:
(1) targeting of families with new text begin minor new text end children deleted text begin who are eligible for a prekindergarten
through grade 12 academic program anddeleted text end new text begin whonew text end are living in overcrowded conditions in their
current housing; are paying more than 50 percent of their income for rent; or who lack a
fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;
(2) targeting of unaccompanied youth in need of an alternative residential setting;
(3) connecting families with the social services necessary to maintain the families'
stability in their home, including but not limited to housing navigation, legal representation,
and family outreach; and
(4) one or more of the following:
(i) provision of rental assistance for a specified period of time, which may exceed 24
months; or
(ii) provision of support and case management services to improve housing stability,
including but not limited to housing navigation and family outreach.
(d) In selecting projects for funding under this subdivision, preference shall be given to
organizations granted funding under section 462A.201, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause
(4).
(e) No grantee under this subdivision is required to have an advisory committee as
described in subdivision 6.
Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end
new text begin
(a) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for loans and grants under Minnesota Statutes,
section 462A.201, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (4).
new text end
new text begin
(b) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for grants to programs under Minnesota Statutes,
section 462A.204, subdivision 8.
new text end