On Tuesday December 19th, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan visited Birchwood Apartments in Duluth. She talked about the importance of affordable housing development for struggling families without homes.

“We are designating $348 million towards housing projects to create and preserve three things,” Lt. Governor Flanagan said. “So the first is single family homes. The second is manufactured home communities. The third is affordable rental apartments.”

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan said approximately 640,000 families in Minnesota have cost burdens. She said $70 million of the state plan will build over 400 housing units in Northeast Minnesota.

“A quarter of a million families in Minnesota pay more than half of their income on housing,” Lt. Governor Flanagan said. “That’s a lot of money that doesn’t go towards other things like food and clothing, transportation, medical care, education costs. So this is another important step to ensure that every Minnesotan has a safe and affordable place to call home.”

Nancy Cashman, the Executive Director of Center City Housing Corp., said they provided approximately 650 people, including children last night with affordable housing. She also gave Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan a tour of Birchwood Apartments and talked about the importance of investing in affordable housing.

“I think one of the things that it really provides is respect and recognition to the people that we housed often when you’re living on the streets. Especially now, there’s all the encampments. They’re very visible and yet people ignore them,” Cashmans said. “People walk by and they’re blamed for the condition that they’re in.”

Jennifer Ho, the Commissioner of Minnesota Housing said they are working on several housing development projects in Northeast Minnesota.

“I think the important message today is that this is an investment in northeastern Minnesota,” Commissioner Ho said. “I hope folks in these communities see themselves in these investments. Over $70 million in 461 units up here, $50 million of it is in Duluth, 272 units.”

Trellis company is building 46 units at Hillside Gardens and Proctor. D.W. Jones, is preserving 24 units at Maplewood Apartments in Cloquet. Commissioner Ho also said there will be 113 homes for single families in Northeast Minnesota.

Also for more information about the state housing development plan you can read more here. However, for other stories about housing you can read more here.