Welcome to Hennepin County Housing's quarterly newsletter.  

Here, you will receive updates and stories about the county’s work to increase housing stability and access to affordable housing for all residents. This newsletter is for anyone who is interested in this work—and its impact on real people.  

You are receiving this newsletter because you previously expressed interest in updates about Hennepin County’s housing work. If you no longer want to receive these updates, you may change your subscription settings at any time.

Launched in 2021, the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) is composed of about a dozen county residents who have experienced homelessness. LEAG was created with the belief that those closest to the issue are closest to the solution–meaning those who have gone through housing instability will have the best insight on how to create better responses, programs, and systems.  

Read about how LEAG CO-Chair, Rico Morales, and Hennepin County staff are working together to make lasting—and effective—change.  

While many counties across the country rented hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, Hennepin County purchased struggling motels with the long-term goal of converting them to permanent affordable housing, specifically Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing.

Two of these properties, the Metro Inn and 925 Studios (formerly University Inn), are leasing up and preparing to welcome new tenants in a few weeks. It’s a big step for the county and its partners—and for the formerly homeless residents who now have a place to call home.  

Every year, the county gathers housing leaders from across the region at the Heading Home Hennepin Meeting to talk about challenges and perspectives around improving housing stability. This year’s keynote speakers included Rico Morales, Co-Chair of the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG), Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley.  

"It was very exciting and rewarding to be in person for the first time in several years," said Markus Klimenko, Hennepin County Human Services Area Manager and one of the principal organizers of the event. "There was a lot of energy. The insights from community leaders, including members of LEAG, were invaluable, and we'll continue to build on them in the coming year."  

Access additional documents that describe the work and ideas discussed at the meeting. 

Get ready: 2024 annual request for proposals (RFPs) 

Affordable housing developers take note—in January 2024, multifamily rental, supportive housing, and homeownership development projects will be eligible to apply to Hennepin County affordable housing RFPs. Read more on the coordinated affordable housing development RFP webpage. 

Severe cold warming options 

Winter can be a brutal time for people experiencing housing instability, including families. Every year, Hennepin County works with partners to provide various levels of support to help people stay safe during the coldest months. Learn about warming options and be sure to spread the word to those that need it.  

Union Park Flats groundbreaking 

Union Park Flats—a new affordable housing development in St. Louis Park—officially broke ground in November. The new development will create 60 units in total, ranging from one to four bedrooms. Several of the units will be set aside for households exiting homelessness and for households with disabilities. Its location is ideal for future residents because of its proximity to the light rail, schools, and major health-care employers. The county invested a total of $1,394,000 million in the project.  

New housing website  

Last month, we launched a new housing-focused website that will provide information about all of Hennepin County’s housing work. This is the spot for “big picture” updates and human-centered stories.

Check it out: Housing (hennepin.us) 

Star Tribune | Metro Inn Motel in south Minneapolis will soon reopen as permanent affordable housing 

Star Tribune | Community welcomes formerly homeless home to south Minneapolis 

Star Tribune | Twin Cities evictions have spiked again. Can Minnesota solve its housing crisis?

Star Tribune | Home Sweet Hennepin: A homeless veteran finds his place