Minnesota Housing Finance Agency rehabilitation grants and loans

How it works

Minnesota Statutes section 462A.05 authorizes the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to make rehabilitation grants and loans for existing housing owned or occupied by eligible low- and moderate-income persons and families.

What the money covers

The statute says grants may be used to rehabilitate existing residential housing or to assist in paying a rehabilitation loan. The agency may also participate in loans for energy conservation, decarbonization, climate resiliency, and other qualified projects for existing housing.

The statute specifically lists examples that can be eligible through the loan authority, including weatherstripping and caulking; chimney construction or improvement; furnace or space heater repair, cleaning or replacement; air-source or geothermal heat pump installation, repair, maintenance, or replacement; insulation; windows and doors; and structural or other directly related repairs or installations essential for energy conservation, decarbonization, climate resiliency, or other qualified projects.

Amounts and matching

For grants under subdivision 15, the statute says the amount of any grant must not exceed the lesser of $6,000, the actual cost of the work performed, or the portion of rehabilitation cost the agency determines cannot otherwise be paid without spending an unreasonable portion of the person’s or family’s income.

Rules and code compliance

The statute says no grant may be made unless the agency determines the grant will be used primarily to make the housing more desirable to live in, increase market value, or comply with state, county, or municipal building, housing maintenance, fire, health, or similar codes and standards, or to accomplish energy conservation, decarbonization, climate resiliency, or other qualified projects.

Important note

This statute is broad housing rehabilitation authority, not a wildfire-specific program, and the statute itself does not provide a wildfire-only allocation.