Housing Rehabilitation & Public Facilities

Over 50 Years of Service

For over 50 years, the HRA has been involved in writing and administering grants on behalf of area cities and counties to fund housing, rental and commercial rehab, and to expand public facilities. Communities in northwest Minnesota contract with us to develop and submit applications to various funding agencies for housing rehab or other municipal community development activities.

Currently, the majority of funding being utilized in area communities is received from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Small Cities Development Program (SCDP), although a combination of funding options can be accessed to meet the changing needs of our area residents. The DEED application process is highly competitive, and funding is awarded to communities that prove the greatest need and project impact. Priorities are to preserve existing owner-occupied housing and rental units, and to bring existing structures up to building standards in energy efficiency, accessibility, health, and safety.

Small Cities Development Program (SCDP)

Home & commercial rehab is completed to address slum and blight issues, improving building appearance, efficiency, access and safety. Funds from other state and federal programs can be used by small cities to upgrade their existing infrastructure systems, install new sewer systems, water towers, and infrastructure that are not affordable without supplemental funding.

We currently have SCDP homeowner, commercial, and rental rehab projects available in the following cities:

Homeowner

  • Ada, MN - Click Here to apply for Homeowner Rehabilitation in Ada, MN

  • Fosston, MN - Click Here to apply for Homeowner Rehabilitation in Fosston, MN

  • Red Lake Falls, MN - Click Here to apply for Homeowner Rehabilitation in Red Lake Falls, MN

Commercial

  • Erskine, MN - Click Here to apply for Commercial Rehabilitation in Erskine, MN

  • Red Lake Falls, MN - Click Here to apply for Commercial Rehabilitation in Red Lake Falls, MN

Rental

  • Erskine, MN - Click Here to apply for Rental Rehabilitation in Erskine, MN

  • Red Lake Falls, MN - Click Here to apply for Rental Rehabilitation in Red Lake Falls, MN

  • Thief River Falls, MN - Click Here to apply for Rental Rehabilitation in Thief River Falls, MN

Tenant Survey for Rental Unit Rehabilitation

If you were notified by Northwest Minnesota Multi-County HRA that your landlord has submitted an application to rehabilitate the rental unit you currently occupy, please click the link next to the appropriate city below to complete the tenant survey.
This will only be completed if you received notice by our office requesting you to complete the tenant survey.

  • Erskine, MN - Click Here to complete the tenant survey if you live in Erskine, MN

  • Red Lake Falls, MN - Click here to complete the tenant survey if you live in Red Lake Falls, MN

  • Thief River Falls, MN - Click here to complete the tenant survey if you live in Thief River Falls, MN

Contractors

If you are a contractor interested in bidding these projects, you must be licensed in Minnesota and carry insurance. 

We work with Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency (MHFA) and with USDA-Rural Development to supplement the grant funding on many of these rehab projects.

Levy Revolving Rehab Loan Program

The HRA also administers a Levy Revolving Rehab Loan Program in Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties. These rehab funds are specifically allocated to each county and are made available as low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses. An online loan application can be found here.

HRA Homebuyers Program

This contract-for-feed program provides homes to first-time buyers who are unable to purchase a home through conventional means and are considered “at risk” for homeownership. To qualify, household income cannot exceed 115% of the state median income, which is adjusted annually.

The program allows at-risk families to purchase a home at low interest rates with no down payment and a 30-year term. Monthly payments are based on affordability and adjusted as income increases. Hazard insurance and property taxes are escrowed and included in the mortgage payment. Qualified homebuyer education counseling is required, financial counseling is available to ensure that the homebuyer has developed a manageable budget to adequately meet the mortgage payment and maintenance expenses of any home, and homebuyers must adhere to a “good neighbor” policy.

Payments received from this program support other potential homeowners by purchasing and rehabbing additional homes.

For more information on the Homebuyers Program, contact Kristi by email at kristi@nwmnhra.org.

Find Out More

Contact the Community Development office at 218.309.0057 or email Kristi at kristi@nwmnhra.org.