Housing Policies & Planning

Communities thrive when they have a range of housing choices for residents in all circumstances and stages of life. The Council works with local governments to identify and plan for their future housing needs.

Housing Policy Plan

The Council's 2040 Housing Policy Plan was amended in July 2015 and is part of the regional development guide, Thrive MSP 2040. The plan

• Sets the Council's housing policy direction
• Identifies regional needs and priorities
• Connects housing to the other Council system plans
• Incorporates recommendations from Choice, Place and Opportunity: An Equity Assessment of the Twin Cities Region
• Helps inform and provide guidance for local housing planning

Comprehensive planning

The Council guides and reviews housing elements within communities' comprehensive plans based on the requirements of the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, including

• Identifying existing housing needs
• Promoting land for the development of affordable housing
• An implementation program that considers what tools a community will use to address its housing needs

Livable Communities Program

The Council’s Livable Communities program awards grants to cities to

• Help clean up polluted sites for redevelopment
• Expand affordable housing opportunities
• Build pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented developments

More about how Livable Communities supports affordable housing in the region.

Metro HRA

The Metropolitan Council Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA) assists low-income seniors, singles, families, and persons with disabilities to obtain decent and affordable housing in nearly 100 cities throughout Anoka, Carver, and most of suburban Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. As a regional entity, Metro HRA provides an efficient method for effective delivery of a variety of housing programs and related services. As a recipient of federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, Metro HRA creates annual and 5-year plans for service delivery.