Some community members are pushing Eden Prairie to boost its affordable housing, which accounts for only about 10 percent of the west metro suburb's housing.
On Wednesday, a panel will discuss the shortage of affordable housing and the work the city and community are doing to address it. The event is open to the public.
"There's not enough … and it won't come until the community really demands it," said Asad Aliweyd, executive director of the New American Academy, a nonprofit that works mainly with Somali residents, teaching English or business and leadership skills.
Aliweyd is organizing the event and has pushed for the city to help generate more affordable housing, especially in the planning and redevelopment expected along the future Southwest Corridor light-rail line, which will run from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. He says there's a growing need within the low-income refugee community of Somalis who have been part of an influx of immigrants moving to the suburb for its top-rated schools and safe community.
"Eden Prairie Somalis are a really hardworking community; most of them are working two jobs, but they want to be part of the Eden Prairie community," Aliweyd said, adding that some families have been separated when trying to find ample affordable housing. "The city of Eden Prairie is a really good city and really welcoming to our community. Just what we'd like to see is a policy change that would facilitate more affordable housing."
It's been a decade since an affordable rental unit has been built, according to the Metropolitan Council, which recommends that Eden Prairie add 1,844 new affordable units by 2020. Other cities operate their own low-income apartments, but Eden Prairie hasn't gotten into that business.
Instead, city leaders say they hope to repurpose existing buildings into affordable units through subsidies, since the city is mostly developed, and have been working to preserve current affordable housing during a time when developers are increasingly interested in high-end housing.
"The market is really what drives it," said Molly Koivumaki, the city's housing and community services manager. "We can't force people to put affordables in. [But] we're pretty hopeful that, as the [light-rail] corridor develops … we will have some opportunities."
