Minnesota Housing eNews
April 4, 2019
Minnesota Housing Announces Funding Availability
Minnesota Housing and its partners are pleased to announce the availability of funding to build and preserve housing that is affordable in communities across the state.
As you review available funding sources and prepare your applications, please keep in mind our goal to become the next state in the nation to end homelessness among Veterans. This goal to achieve and sustain “functional zero” is based on a well-coordinated and efficient community system that assures veteran homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring.
Thank you to our funding partners, Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) and Metro HRA, who are offering 45 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) project-based vouchers in this Request for Proposals (RFP). These vouchers expand the solid base of community resources to achieve and sustain “functional zero” so that every Veteran has a place to call home.
We hope that you will consider ways to help reach this goal through this RFP and your daily work. Watch for additional opportunities to join this effort in upcoming eNews.
In this eNews:
Important Dates | Review Available Resources | Application Tools | Request Technical Assistance | Create a Portal Account (Multifamily Only) | Gather Materials | Application Tips | Funding Recommendations | Questions
Important Dates
Here are some important dates for the 2019 RFP/2020 Housing Tax Credits (HTC) Round 1.
  • Thursday, May 2 by 5:00 p.m.: Preservation pre-applications due
    NOTE: Tax credit applicants claiming Preservation points must submit their pre-application by May 2. See the Preservation webpage for more information.
  • Friday, May 17 by 5:00 p.m.: Intent to Apply due - required for all Multifamily applications submitted in the consolidated RFP
  • Monday, June 3 by 5:00 p.m.: Multifamily application deadline
  • Thursday, June 6 by 12:00 p.m.: Single Family application deadline
Review Available Resources
Single Family Resources
     Single Family Homeownership Resources:
  • Grant funds
  • Deferred loan funds
  • Interim construction loans
     Single Family - Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB) Proceeds:
  • Can only be used for community land trust projects
     Single Family funds may be used for the following activities:
  • Acquisition, rehabilitation, resale (grants or interim construction loans)
  • Affordability gap/down-payment and closing cost assistance (grants or deferred loans)
  • New construction (grants or interim construction loans)
  • Owner-occupied rehabilitation (grants or deferred loans)
Multifamily Resources
     Multifamily Rental Projects:
  • $11.5 million in 2020 HTC Round 1
  • Deferred loans on a competitive basis
  • Funding Partner resources-rental assistance available in the form of Project-based Vouchers (PBVs):
    • Metropolitan Countil/Metro HRA: Up to 20 project-based Section 8 VASH vouchers
    • Saint Paul PHA: Up to 125 project-based Section 8 vouchers in the allocations noted below:
      • Up to 50 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) to project-based in mixed-income developments that provide affordable housing along with market-rate housing,
      • Up to 50 HCVs to project-based as supportive housing for persons experiencing homelessness, and
      • Up to 25 VASH vouchers to project-based as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing for homeless veterans.
  • Amortizing first mortgages (applicants may apply through the RFP or may contact us separately to inquire about mortgages outside of the RFP)
     Multifamily - HIB Proceeds:
  • Can be used for projects that provide permanent supportive housing for homeless populations and people with behavioral health needs, senior housing, and preservation.
Application Tools
The application instructions below provide essential information and important details for submitting an application and the required supporting documentation for all application types. 
New for Multifamily Applicants in 2019:
  • Project-based Vouchers: Applicants with projects in the jurisdictions authorized by Metro HRA and Saint Paul PHA will be required to complete a Public Housing Authority specific questionnaire.
    • PBV with a capital funding request: you will need to identify this within your Intent to Apply form, and complete the PHA specific questionnaire as part of your application submission. 
    • PBV without a capital funding request: complete the Project-based Vouchers Only checklist items. You do not need to complete a full application. Refer to the RFP applications instructions for more details.

  • Evidence of site control will be due at the Intent to Apply (ITA) stage.
Request Technical Assistance
We want to help you submit strong proposals. Check out the technical assistance opportunities below.
Single Family Applicants
  • Please contact Impact.Fund.MHFA@state.mn.us as you are putting your application together and you will be connected with a staff person.
  • In early May, a pre-recorded Technical Assistance Webinar will be available on our website.
  • For new construction projects, staff will host a technical assistance webinar about visitability.
Multifamily Applicants
Create a Portal Account (for Multifamily Applications only)
The Multifamily Customer Portal facilitates the application and post-selection process for developers seeking funding from Minnesota Housing for affordable rental housing.
New to Applying?
Gather Application Materials
Project Eligibility, Feasibility, and Organizational Capacity
Minnesota Housing will select a variety of project types throughout Minnesota communities, and we prioritize projects by community need, feasibility, organizational capacity, reasonableness of deferred loan request and strategic priorities.
We encourage proposals for a variety of project types including:
  • Permanent supportive housing for homeless populations 
  • Permanent supportive housing for people with behavioral health needs
  • Preservation projects (both rental and homeownership)
  • Affordable homes for purchase
  • Workforce housing
  • Senior housing
Please review and analyze the Community Profiles data to help identify areas that fit these criteria.
New Mapping Application in Community Profiles for Single Family and Multifamily Applicants
A new mapping application has been released to help make scoring single family and multifamily proposals against Minnesota Housing’s geographic priorities quicker and simpler. In just a few clicks you can get a complete score breakdown for your application. Visit the Community Profiles webpage and click the link for the RFP/housing tax credit round you are applying for.
The Community Profiles mapping application used in scoring your applications in prior years will remain available for those who want to continue using it.
We encourage applicants to provide feedback and ask for help. Contact Kody Thurnau at 651.215.5972 with your questions and feedback.
New for Multifamily Applicants in 2019
Appraisal Requests
For the 2019 RFP/2020 Housing Tax Credits Round 1, Minnesota Housing will not collect appraisal fees at ITA. Appraisals will be commissioned after notification of selection.
Application Tips
Multifamily Family Applicants
Scoring Tips
Minnesota Housing has created an HTC and Deferred Scoring Tips Quick Reference document to help you as you apply for funding from Minnesota Housing and seek points awarded under selection criteria.

Multifamily applicants should also review the 2020 HTC Self-scoring Worksheet and 2019 Deferred Loan Priority Checklist and the 2020 HTC and 2019 Deferred Scoring Guide for more information.
The new Community Profiles mapping application will also help make scoring proposals against Minnesota Housing’s geographic priorities quicker and simpler.
Income Averaging
New applications applying in the 2019 RFP/2020 HTC Round 1 can select income averaging as a minimum set aside. Minnesota Housing has updated its guidance for the use of income averaging with the Housing Tax Credit (HTC) Program with LMIR amortizing loans. The guidance specifies eligibility details and supporting documentation requirements for the use of income averaging with HTC projects with and without additional Minnesota Housing deferred loan financing.
To learn more about income averaging, resources are available on the Novogradac website. You can also check out the FAQs prepared by the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA).
Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB)
Projects applying for HIB proceeds are required to indicate on the Intent to Apply form the number of units that will meet a specific eligible use, including:
  • Housing for seniors age 55 and older,
  • Permanent supportive housing for homeless households and people with behavioral health needs, and
  • Preservation of federally subsidized units
For more information on HIB requirements, eligible populations, and structuring of eligible projects, please visit the HIB webpage and view the new HIB Guide.
Energy Rebate Analysis Requirements
If you plan to apply for Housing Tax Credits or deferred funding from Minnesota Housing, please complete the Energy Rebate Analysis. All developments applying for funding through the RFP must complete this form.

Please contact Katherine Teiken, Energy Efficiency Fellow, with questions or to request technical assistance.
Single Family and Multifamily Applicants
Building Standards
Enterprise Green Communities Criteria applies to both Single Family and Multifamily applicants.
Multifamily applicants: read the most recent Building Standards eNews for more information.
Single Family applicants: read the 2018 Minnesota Overlay & Guide to the 2015 Green Communities Criteria.
Funding Recommendations
After applications are received and reviewed, all funding recommendations must be approved by the Minnesota Housing board. Funding partner proposal recommendations will be made at their respective board meetings.
Questions?
Single Family Applicants
Multifamily Applicants
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