The Minnesota Housing board announced awards to build, preserve and support 73 statewide projects totaling $134 million on Friday.
"The projects will ensure thousands of Minnesota families, homeless veterans and low-income individuals have safe and decent places to live," said Gov. Mark Dayton. It also will support more than 4,500 jobs, he said.
Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal said the money will help nearly 3,100 households in Minnesota. The awards help people in a variety of situations, including employees at Digikey, Arctic Cat and other job sites who are driving 50 to 60 miles to work because of a lack of affordable housing.
Homeless veterans are being supplied with assistance in projects near hospitals in St. Cloud and Minneapolis, she said.
The projects also help the one-third of Minnesotans who pay more than 30 percent of their income in housing costs, which is considered a cost burden, said Tina Flint Smith, Dayton's chief of staff. Recipients of the funds include non-profit and for-profit developers, community development agencies and local units of government.
The award was more than double the amount in 2011, due in part to the 2012 bonding bill, which added $30 million.
Minnesota Housing (www. mnhousing.gov) finances affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Minnesotans and is expected to assist 68,000 households in 2013.
John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633
