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25 <br /> the situation is simply, there is a significant pent-up marketplace demand for housing at all <br /> income levels. Unfortunately, the marketplace seems focused on the high-end consumer and <br /> has generally ignored low and middle income housing needs. <br /> Objective <br /> NMMA will assist in the development of a legislative strategy designed to develop long-term <br /> public and private housing funding tools to be implemented on a statewide basis. <br /> Share with decision makers NMMA member track record in providing across the board housing <br /> options in their respective communities. <br /> Action Steps <br /> 1. NMMA will compile all local housing goals included in current member comp plans and <br /> develop base-line information on planned housing development and redevelopment for the <br /> North Metro area. NMMA will analyze all available data in an attempt to determine local <br /> housing need for all types of housing. Lastly, NMMA will develop housing strategies from <br /> this data and share with appropriate decision makers, housing agencies (MHFA and Metro <br /> Council) and non-profits organizations interested in housing issues, (i.e., Family Housing <br /> Fund, etc). <br /> 2. Work with all interested organizations and parties to convince the legislature that additional <br /> resources are needed. <br /> 3. Tie housing initiatives and programs to workforce programs. Workforce training and <br /> development is a high priority for both federal and state government policy-and.decision <br /> makers. Perhaps a new approach to providing assisted housing could be to be it to the <br /> needs of people involved in workforce training, so they could have affordable housing while <br /> trying to improve their earning power and ready themselves for jobs that will make <br /> Minnesota more economically competitive. Employers should also be involved in this <br /> approach. <br /> 4. NMMA will become engaged and take a leadership role with any large coalition(s) working <br /> on affordable housing, such as ISAIAH or Housing Works. NMMA may not always agree <br /> with their programs, but it needs to be engaged in these efforts to help shape strategies and <br /> work plan(s). <br /> 5. NMMA will design and develop with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation an <br /> expanded and coordinated Housing Resource Center program for all interested member <br /> communities using GMHC's model operating in suburban Hennepin County (cities of <br /> Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, New Hope, and Crystal) and the 1-35W Coalition <br /> communities (Circle Pines, Mounds View, New Brighton, Roseville, Coon Rapids, Shoreview <br /> and Arden Hills). <br /> TAX REFORM MODIFICATIONS <br /> Background <br /> The complexity of the changes brought by the 2001 Tax Reform Law will necessitate both <br /> patience and diligence on the part of member communities. Actual impacts will not be known <br /> for some time. On the other hand, there may be opportunities next session to address local <br /> situations that can be identified and documented as having unintended consequences, e.g., <br /> dramatic cut in LGA revenue stream for the cities of Columbia Heights and New Hope. <br /> 6 <br />