The Twin Cities, like most parts of Minnesota, faces a dire shortage of safe, permanent housing options for families with children experiencing homelessness. In 2019, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) opened the Minnehaha Townhomes, 16 townhomes dedicated to these families, who are referred directly from the Hennepin County homeless shelter system. MPHA developed, owns, and manages the townhomes, now home to more than 50 children. But they could not have become reality without the collaboration of a broad coalition.
The four buildings revitalized this long-vacant site, donated by the City of Minneapolis. Construction of new public housing is exceedingly rare in the United States; the Minnehaha Townhomes are the first new public housing built in Minneapolis since 2010. At a cost of approximately $5 million, the Minnehaha Townhomes represent the financial contributions of MPHA, Minnesota Housing, the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the Met Council, Federal Home Loan Bank, and Bremer Trust. They also embody the culmination of years of work and collaboration with our design, construction, and neighborhood partners including the Nokomis East Neighborhood Organization and Minneapolis Council Member Andrew Johnson.
The development includes four two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom units, along with a playground, ample green space, community patio, storm-water management, and connections to the city sidewalk and trail system. Four units provide permanent supportive housing, reserved for families experiencing long-term homelessness. The units feature high-quality materials and modern design that provides the space modern families need to thrive.
The families who live at the Minnehaha Townhomes receive services from the county and a rapid rehousing provider. These supportive services emulate Hennepin County programs that focus on families at risk of repeat shelter stays.
Transit is essential to the families who make their homes here, and the Minnehaha Townhomes are just a five-minute walk from the VA Medical Center Light Rail Train (LRT) station. Improved sidewalks and exterior lighting will help residents access the transit that serves the area. The site is located between two major job centers (Downtown Minneapolis and Bloomington/MOA/MSP) and walking distance from another large employer (the VA Medical Center). The townhomes are also a short walk from Minnehaha Falls, one of the Twin Cities’ finest regional parks.
For more information contact Jeff Horwich, Director of Policy & Communications, MPHA at jhorwich@mplspha.org.
Follow MPHA:
Twitter https://twitter.com/MPLSPubHousing
Facebook https://FB.com/mplspublichousing
Website https://mphaonline.org/minnehaha-townhomes/