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<br />REQUEST FOR HRA ACTION <br />DATE: 09/21/04 <br />ITEM NO: 8.b. <br />Staff Approval: Agenda Section: <br />CB ACTION <br />Consider Endorsement of Ramsey County Endowment Fund <br />Item Description: <br />1.0BACKGROUND <br />1.1Member Jeanne Kelsey provided information regarding a request to support MICAH’s <br />(Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) effort to encourage the Ramsey <br />County’s Commissioners to support the future funding of the Ramsey County Endowment <br />Fund. (brochure attached) The Endowment Fund provided over $6 million toward new <br />affordable rental housing in suburban Ramsey County since 2000. The Accessible Space <br />project in Roseville at Roselawn and Lexington was granted $66,667 from this program. <br />Currently, there is no funding for this program and the Ramsey County Commissioners have <br />not allocated new funds to this program for 2005 and beyond due to budget constraints. <br />1.2 The Endowment Fund provides dollars specifically for the construction on new rental <br />housing for the benefit of those at the lowest incomes – 30%-50% of median income. <br />2.0 STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS <br />2.1Staff is recommending that the HRA consider the following in determining its active support <br />for this program. <br />Is there a need for NEW affordable rental housing in Roseville? – The MF Study <br />indicates that the existing rental housing is affordable but needs renovation. This <br />program would not help to fund renovation of existing affordable rental housing. <br />Has there been a request from the development community to build NEW affordable <br />rental housing in Roseville? - Staff has not had many inquiries for locations for <br />NEW affordable rental housing in Roseville except for the accessible space facility. <br />If the HRA did see a need for supporting this type of funding would it be better <br />received by Ramsey County if it came directly from the HRA board instead of <br />through an outside agency effort? – Staff believes that it would be more effective if <br />the HRA carried the message directly to the Ramsey County HRA Board rather than <br />through another organization. <br />Is there other more priority items that the HRA would rather see the Ramsey County <br />HRA fund first prior to this program? – With budget cuts across the board, the <br />County should consider funding other programs such as rehab and social services <br />first. <br />Ramsey County Endowment – Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />