Metro HRA Programs
Housing Choice Voucher Rent Assistance Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program is funded by the federal government and offers rental assistance to low-income households. The Metro HRA offers the program in communities throughout Anoka, Carver, and most of suburban Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. See a map and list of Metro HRA participating communities (PDF).
The program uses the existing private rental market and provides payments to private landlords on behalf of low-income renters. Participating property owners are guaranteed a stable source of rental income.
Eligible households pay 30% to 40% of their incomes for rent, and Metro HRA pays the remainder, within established rent guidelines. Families may rent any type of housing in the Metro HRA service area.
The Metropolitan Council established the Family Affordable Housing Program (FAHP) to serve families with low incomes. The FAHP was designed, in part, to help implement the 1995 Hollman Consent Decree. Metro HRA owns over 150 single family homes and town-homes through this program in scattered sites located in suburban Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. See more information on the FAHP program (PDF).
See information on Applications and our Waiting List.
Project Based Voucher Rent Assistance Program
The Project Based Voucher Rent Assistance Program (PBV) program is a HUD-funded Section 8 housing subsidy program that ties the federal rental assistance directly to a specific unit. This differs from the traditional tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which is tied to a person.
Eligible households receive rental assistance by agreeing to live in existing, newly constructed, or rehabilitated PBV units. The households continue to receive assistance as long as they maintain their program eligibility and reside in the specific project-based dwelling units.
PBV participants must have incomes that do not exceed 50% of area median income (AMI). After living in a PBV unit for 12 months, a participant is eligible for a tenant-based voucher to move to a unit of their choice on the open rental market, if the Metro HRA has HCVs available. The PBV remains with the original unit.
PBV units are filled with applicants on the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list, referred by the property owner or referred through service providers.
Special programs
Metro HRA provides programs for people with disabilities by partnering with social service agencies. These programs provide both housing assistance and support services. The goal is to allow people to live independently in the community of their choice. These programs include the following:
Program
|
Funding Partner
|
Program Details
|
# of Families
|
| Bridges |
State of MN |
Rental assistance for households with 1 or more adults with mental illnesses. The program is a partnership of housing subsidy and supportive services |
150 |
| Shelter + Care |
Federal Government |
Rental assistance in connection with supportive services for homeless persons with disabilities |
200 |
| Temporary Housing Assistance Program |
Federal and State of MN |
Rental subsidies for households where at least one member is HIV positive |
50 |
| Rental Assistance for Anoka County |
Anoka County |
A partnership of housing subsidy with job and education planning to help families accomplish their self-sufficiency goals. The assistance is short-term and intended to be transitional |
60 |
| Veteran's Affairs Supportive Housing |
Federal Government |
Rental assistance for homeless veterans in connection with supportive services provided through the Veteran’s Administration. |
132 |
NOTE: These programs are not part of the Section 8 program and do not use the same waiting list. Special program participants are referred to Metro HRA from other social service agencies.
More resources
Other metro-area agencies administer Section 8 programs as well. For assistance finding affordable housing, visit HousingLink, Minnesota's primary source for affordable housing-related openings, data, information and resources.