Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Carver, Scott counties to get units

Affordable housing is needed throughout the Twin Cities -- especially because so many jobs are now located outside the core cities. Minimum wage workers and young and immigrant families deserve opportunities to have decent homes closer to their places of employment.

Additional modestly priced, suburban housing will be built, thanks to a $1.4 million state grant to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to purchase land in Scott and Carver counties. The Minnesota Housing Agency and Family Housing Fund announced the land acquisition award that will leverage an additional $4.5 million from the community to pay for the construction of the homes. Habitat plans to buy 28-35 parcels of land and will build homes in three phases from 2009 to 2011.

During its 20-year history here, Habitat has provided 679 homes for families in the metro area -- about 80 percent in St. Paul and Minneapolis. But only six have been constructed in Scott and Carver counties. This collaboration will at least double that number.