Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership

Housing and commercial rehab:swmhp brings construction management expertise to oversee rehab and redevelopment projects, both residential and commercial in nature. These efforts focus on goals such as: removing health & safety hazards, meeting accessibility requirements, increasing energy efficiencies, increasing marketability to ensure quality living for those we work with. Swmhp writes funding requests and administers several housing rehabilitation programs in the region, including small cities development program (scdp), rental rehabilitation deferred loans (rrdl), federal home loan bank (fhlb), fix-up funds and other resources.

Community development and technical assistance:swmhp's menu of services includes both single family development and community development and technical support. There tends to be a great deal of connection between these programs. Swmhp helps local units of government, not-for-profit developers and other agencies identify and address housing needs within a community. These needs are done through methods such as needs assessments, surveys, and community engagement and feedback sessions. Swmhp can propose solutions including, but not limited to, technical assistance in grant writing or supporting applications, financial review of cost feasibility of how a project could be done, researching various funding streams that could fit, as well as initial design work to bring needs to life in a way stakeholders could envision. These services are primarily funded by developer fees, foundation grants and the minnesota housing finance agency.

Counseling & supportive services:swmhp provides education and counseling services to those preparing for homeownership, as well as those in rental situations depending on their needs. Homeownership counseling services address credit concerns, educate on household maintenance and upkeep, and help identify financing sources. These counseling services also include foreclosure counseling and advocacy, as well as eviction prevention counseling and advocacy. Swmhp also serves as a supportive services provider for eligible residents of three properties in swmhp's portfolio and two properties in another developer/owner's portfolio. Supportive services include creating individualized household plans with goals designed to address resident's obstacles and barriers to housing. These plans address securing employment, meeting basic needs, education on tenant rights and responsibilities, conflict management with landlords and neighbors, and referrals to appropriate therapies and programs available in the community. Swmhp provides supportive services to over 100 individuals.