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HAF Grantee Plan - HAFP-0031 -Minnesota Housing Finance Agency - Extracted 01/27/2022 00:04:06

United States Department of the Treasury

Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan

Submitted by Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

HAF Grantee Plan Name

HAFP-0031
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United States Department of the Treasury

Homeowner Assistance Fund Plan For Participants 

with Allocations $5 million or Greater

Allocation Amount $5 Million or Greater

Submission Date 1/12/2022 5:08 PM

Total Plan Requested Amount $128,663,948.00

Record Type State

Application Record SLT-0079

HAF Grantee Plan Status (external) Approved
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Homeowner Needs and Community Engagement

What Quantitative Data Has Informed the Participant’s Planning?

Treasury will assess the extent to which a Participant has, in the course of its HAF planning process, relied on

quantitative data, including from community-based organizations or organizations that serve potentially

eligible homeowners. 

In its HAF planning process, has the Participant obtained quantitative data from mortgage servicers, private

data providers, government entities, community-based organizations, or other sources to inform its planning

about how to target and best serve eligible homeowners with mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures?

Yes

If yes, please list and, briefly describe each source of quantitative data.

We appreciate Treasury sending data and added to that with more local and specific data

sources as outlined below.

• Black Knight Data & Analytics, LLC – We have and will continue to purchase monthly data

cubes that have enabled us to assess in detail the performance (current, 30-59, 60-89, 90-119,

120-179, 180-359, and 360+ days past due) and forbearance status of all mortgages in Minnesota

by zip code.

• U.S. Census Bureau’s Pulse Survey – We used this as another source to estimate the number of

homeowners who are behind on their mortgages. This data provides information on delinquency

rates by race/ethnicity and income.

• U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. We used this data for demographic

information, including homeownership rates, mortgage type (first vs. subordinate lien) and

information Socially Disadvantage Individuals, at the county, zip code and census tract level.

• County Tax Departments - We obtained property tax delinquency data from a sample of

counties.

• Minneapolis Homeowner’s Association – We got HOA fee data, which we combined this with 

https://ipropertymanagement.com/research/hoa-statistics#minnesota. 

• Northcountry Cooperative Foundation – We obtained data on the number of lots in

manufactured home communities and average lot rents.

• Minnesota Homeownership Center – We obtained data on the number of pre-foreclosures,

sheriff sales, and foreclosure counseling sessions, including the share that lead to a loan

modification.

• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development – We obtained data on

employment, unemployment and unemployment insurance claims, including data by

race/ethnicity.
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In its HAF planning process, has the Participant obtained and reviewed quantitative data or studies regarding

which demographic segments in its jurisdiction have historically experienced discrimination in the housing or

housing finance market?

Yes

If yes, please list and, briefly describe each source of quantitative data.

• Data and research by our own Research Department, or funded by Minnesota Housing,

including:

o Analysis of American Community Survey data on homeownership rate disparities

o Analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) lending and denials

o 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for Minnesota

• Horowitz, Eng Ky, Starling and Tchourumoff, Systemic racism haunts homeownership rates in

Minnesota (Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, February 25, 2021); 

https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2021/systemic-racism-haunts-homeownership-rates-in-minnesota

In its HAF planning process, has the Participant obtained quantitative data from utility providers or entities

charged with assessing and collecting property taxes or relied on quantitative data or studies to inform its

planning about how to target and best serve eligible homeowners at risk of displacement due to utility

arrearage or tax foreclosure?

Yes

If yes, please list and, briefly describe each source of quantitative data.

• County Tax Departments – From a sampling of counties, we obtained data on the number and

rate of homeowners who are delinquent on their property taxes, including the average amounts.

The rates were generally about 0.6% percent, or lower. Based on conversations with county tax

officials, most homeowners with a mortgage escrow their taxes and insurance. If the homeowners

get behind on their tax payments, the lender/servicer will continue to pay them to preserve their

financial interest in the property. This explains why the delinquency rates are so low from the

county’s perspective, but the homeowner still owes the payments to the lender/servicer. With the

results of this initial data inquiry, we did not think getting data from all 87 county tax

departments was necessary to develop reasonable estimates and develop an effective plan. We

assume that homeowners who are behind on their principal and interest are also behind on their

taxes and insurance. The borrowers who are delinquent with the county tax departments are

predominantly homeowners without a mortgage.

• Minnesota Department of Commerce – We got data on the number and share of lower-income

household who participate in the Department’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Of the

approved households, 17.5% are behind on their energy bills, with a median amount of $500.

Because the Department of Commerce has about $170 million to assist households who are

behind on their bills, our program will not be offering utility assistance.

In the following text box, please list any source not listed above of quantitative information, including

sources of data on the performance of any of the Participant’s previously implemented programs, that the

Participant used to inform its HAF planning process, briefly describe how the data informed the Participant’s

planning.
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• Covid-19 Housing Assistance Program – Minnesota Housing has experience standing up

Covid-19 homeownership assistance through the Covid-19 Housing Assistance Program (which

administered both homeownership and rental assistance). The program assisted roughly 5,200

homeowner households for past due contract for deed payments, homeowner’s association dues,

homeowner’s insurance, manufactured home lot rent payments, manufactured home payments,

mortgage payments, rent payments, and certain utility assistance. 

• RentHelpMN – Minnesota Housing began accepting applications for our Covid-19 Emergency

Rental Assistance Program, RentHelpMN, program on April 20, 2021. RentHelpMN is a $519

million federally funded program with two rounds of funding that makes it possible for eligible

renters to get caught up on overdue rent and utilities dating back to March 13, 2020. The

program is of a similar scale to HomeHelpMN with significant program administration and

vendor management.

• National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) – Minnesota Housing administered ten

rounds of NMFC counseling funding under this national program that supported foreclosure

counseling from 2008 to 2018. In total, Minnesota Housing was awarded over $17 million in

assistance to support a statewide foreclosure counseling network with support from our state

housing counseling intermediary, the Minnesota Homeownership Center. During this time

Minnesota tripled the capacity of the foreclosure counseling network to a high of 74 counselors

with over 43,000 level 1 counseling clients served under the program.

• Minnesota Housing administered a loss mitigation program focused on targeted Minnesota

Housing borrowers who met eligibility guidelines for a loan modification coming out of the

foreclosure crisis in 2008 and 2009. Under that program, principal reduction was essential to

reach payment affordability goals. Borrowers responded positively to outreach, counseling and

the opportunity to offset lost equity.

Did the Participant communicate with mortgage servicers regarding the development of its program design?

Yes

Did the Participant communicate with other HAF participants regarding the development of its program

design?

Yes

How Has Community Engagement and Public Participation Informed the

Participant’s Planning?

Treasury will assess the extent to which a Participant’s assessment of homeowner needs has been informed

by and reflects input from organizations and individuals representing eligible homeowners, including any

opportunities for public participation in the development of the Participant’s plan. Treasury will pay

particular attention to the extent of the Participant’s engagement with populations that are the subject of

statutory targeting requirements.

Has the Participant requested and received input on its HAF planning process from providers of housing

counseling services or providers of legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure or displacement?

Yes
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Provider information

If yes, please list such providers, including the providers’ address and website. Please indicate by checking

the appropriate box below if the provider’s primary purpose is to serve low- and moderate-income

households or to address the impacts of housing discrimination on one or more demographic groups in the

Participant’s jurisdiction.

Provider Name 

Provider Address 

Provider Website

Provider

Primarily

Serves

LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

MN Homeownership Center

1000 Payne Ave ,Saint Paul,Minnesota 55130

https://www.hocmn.org/

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid & Wells Fargo

111 N 5th St #100,Minneapolis,Minnesota 55403

https://mylegalaid.org/

Scott County CDA

323 Naumkeag St S ,Shakopee,Minnesota 55379

https://scottcda.org/

Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP)

715 11st St N Suite 402,Moorhead,Minnesota 56560

http://www.caplp.org/

LSS Financial Consulting

709 University Ave W ,Saint Paul,Minnesota 55104

https://www.lssmn.org/financialcounseling/

CLUES St. Paul

797 E 7th Street Suite 400,Saint Paul,Minnesota 55106

https://clues.org/

Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County

8800 MN-&, #401 ,Saint Louis Park,Minnesota 55426

https://caphennepin.org/

Dakota County CDA

1228 Town Centre Dr ,Eagan,Minnesota 55123

https://www.dakotacda.org/

West Central MN Community Action

411 Industrial Park Blvd ,Elbow Lake,Minnesota 56531

https://wcmca.org/

CAPI USA

5930 Brooklyn Blvd ,Minneapolis,Minnesota 55429

https://www.capiusa.org/
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One Roof Community Housing

12 E 4th Street ,Duluth,Minnesota 55805

https://1roofhousing.org/

Wright County Community Action

130 Division Street W ,Maple Lake,Minnesota 55358

https://www.wccaweb.com/

Carver County CDA

705 N Walnut St ,Chaska,Minnesota 55318

https://www.carvercda.org/

Hmong American Partnership

394 University Ave W ,Saint Paul,Minnesota 55103

https://hmong.org/

SEMCAC

545 Dunnell Dr ,Owatonna,Minnesota 55060

https://www.semcac.org/

NeighborWorks Home Partners

533 Dale Street N ,Saint Paul,Minnesota 55103

https://nwhomepartners.org/

Has the Participant requested and received input regarding its HAF planning process from community-based

organizations or organizations that serve potentially eligible homeowners?

Yes

Community Information

If yes, please list such organizations, including the providers’ address and website if available. Please

indicate by checking the appropriate box below if the provider’s primary purpose is to serve low- and

moderate-income households or to address the impacts of housing discrimination on one or more

demographic groups in the Participant’s jurisdiction.

Organization Name 

Organization Address 

Organization Website

Organization

Primarily

Serves LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs

658 Cedar StreetSuite G-56,, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

http://Mn.gov/mcla

Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans

658 Cedar StreetSuite 160, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

http://Mn.gov/capm
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Olmsted County

151 4th Street SE, Rochester, Minnesota 55904

https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/

Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

161 Saint Anthony AveSuite 919, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103

http://Mn.gov/indianaffairs

Minnesota Council on Disability

121 E 7th PlaceSuite 107, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101

http://www.disability.state.mn.us

Council for Minnesotans on African Heritage

658 Cedar StreetSuite G57, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

http://Mn.gov/cmah

Central MN Habitat for Humanity

3335 West Saint Germain StSuite 208, Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56301

https://www.cmhfh.org/

Itasca Habitat for Humanity

510 SE 11th St, Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744

http://Itasca Habitat for Humanity

City of Minneapolis

300 South 6th St, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487

https://www.minneapolismn.gov/

City of Brooklyn Park

5200 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55443

https://www.brooklynpark.org/

LISC Duluth

Sellwood Building, 202 W Superior St#301, Duluth, Minnesota 55802

https://www.lisc.org/duluth/

Whittier Alliance

10 E 25th St, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

https://www.whittieralliance.org/

Habitat for Humanity Minnesota

2171 University Ave WSuite 200, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114

https://hfhmn.org

MN Prairie County Alliance

630 Florence Ave, Owatonna, Minnesota 55060

https://www.co.steele.mn.us/

LISC Twin Cities

570 N Asbury St#207, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104

https://www.lisc.org/twin-cities/
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City of Brooklyn Park

5200 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55443

https://www.brooklynpark.org/

Has the Participant consulted with localities or tribal governments (cities, counties, or rural communities) in

its jurisdiction regarding the needs of eligible homeowners in its jurisdiction?

Yes

Has the Participant provided an opportunity for public input regarding its HAF Plan through public hearings

or published materials?

Yes

If yes, please indicate whether a proposed or draft plan was published, please describe where details about the

comment solicitation were posted, for how long, in what languages, and whether any efforts were made to

make the posting accessible to persons with disabilities or individuals without reliable internet access.

The plan was informed by a statewide survey with 316 individual responses, two stakeholder

engagement sessions (one focused on the needs of partner organizations, the other focused

potential program recipients), input from five Minnesota community councils, loan servicers

(including U.S. Bank who services Mortgage Revenue Bond loans in the state), FHA/VA/USDA,

and one public hearing. The initial program concept summary was published on our website, 

www.mnhousing.gov, on June 17, 2021. The public hearing was held via conference call, as

opposed to any kind of computer platform, to minimize barriers to access or need for internet

access. The public hearing was held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Partners and the public could

speak at the public hearing and/or provide written comments by 12:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday,

June 23, 2021. We received 13 written public comments on our proposed HAF plan, in addition

to 13 verbal public comments provided during our public hearing, for a total of 29 distinct

comments (some commenters provided more than one comment). We notified the public of the

statewide survey and stakeholder engagement opportunities through a broad email distribution

list with over 6,855 individuals, and we notified the public about the public hearing through the

same email distribution list, by posting notice of the hearing and an opportunity for any

accommodation request needs on our website, and through targeted outreach.

How Will the Participant Continue to Assess the Needs of Eligible

Homeowners?

Treasury anticipates that an ongoing process of assessing the needs of eligible homeowners will help address

the needs of potentially eligible homeowners as economic conditions change over time.

Does the Participant plan to update its assessment of community needs within the next year to determine

whether its HAF program design should be updated to address changing needs of potentially eligible

homeowners?

Yes

What additional data would be helpful to the Participant as it seeks to assess homeowner needs over time?

We believe we will have the data to continue to monitor and assess homeowner needs, including:
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• Monthly delinquency and forbearance data from Black Knight by county and zip code

• Quarterly delinquency data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency

• Bi-Weekly survey data from the Census Bureau’s Pulse Survey
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Program Design

What are the Program Design Elements Through Which the Participant Will

Deliver HAF Assistance to Eligible Homeowners?

A program design element is a specific activity or program, which is consistent with a qualified expense

category, under which a Participant will disburse HAF funds in accordance with the HAF Plan. Please note

that multiple program design elements may fit under a single qualified expense category; for example, a

mortgage assistance program that has different terms for federally backed mortgages and manufactured-home

mortgages may constitute two separate program design elements, for which case the Participant provides a

separate term sheet or other description for each program design element. 

HAF participants must have at least one program design element intended to reduce mortgage delinquency

among targeted populations. Treasury encourages HAF participants to consider program design elements that

address homeownership preservation for targeted populations in areas where there is a sustained trend of

increasing property taxes or utility costs, including for households that do not have mortgages.

Please identify each qualified expense category in which the Participant will offer a program design element

by checking the boxes below.

mortgage payment assistance 

 mortgage principal reduction, including with respect to a second mortgage provided by a nonprofit

or government entity 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s utilities, including electric, gas, home energy, and water 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, and mortgage insurance 

 payment assistance for delinquent property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures 

 payment assistance for down payment assistance loans provided by nonprofit or government

entities 

 financial assistance to allow a homeowner to reinstate a mortgage or to pay other housing-related

costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency, or default 

facilitating mortgage interest rate reductions 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s internet service, including broadband internet access service,

as defined in 47 CFR 8.1(b) 

 payment assistance for homeowner’s association fees or liens, condominium association fees, or

common charges 

 measures to prevent homeowner displacement, such as home repairs to maintain the habitability of

a home or assistance to enable households to receive clear title to their properties 
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For each program design element that the Participant will offer, the Participant is required to upload a term

sheet or other description, that, at a minimum, provides the following information regarding that program

design element. Term sheets for all of Participant’s HAF programs may be uploaded together as one

document.

Title Upload Date

Minnesota Housing - Second questions - Response updated 01122022 1/12/2022 1:50 PM

Minnesota Housing - Second questions - Response 01102022 1/11/2022 8:18 AM

3. Term Sheets - Updated 8.25 FINAL 8/29/2021 3:49 PM

2. Attachment A Updated 8.26 8/30/2021 1:46 PM

A HAF participant may elect to revise its HAF Plan over time to add or subtract program design elements.

Does the Participant anticipate adding additional program design elements to this HAF Plan within one year

of this submission?

No

Treasury has provided sample term sheets to assist HAF participants in developing their HAF plans.

Participants may use these sample term sheets, in whole or in part, as part of their submission. To the extent

the Participant intends to structure the program differently with respect to significant program terms

described in the Sample Term Sheets, Treasury will, in the course of its review of the HAF Plan, request a

justification for how the alternate approach will further the objectives of the HAF, including targeting and

prioritization requirements. In the chart below, the HAF Participant may provide a justification for significant

deviations from the terms described in the sample term sheets upon initial submittal. (optional for initial

submission)
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Program

Design

Element

Deviation from sample terms Justification

Income

Eligibility

100% of AMI by household size

and county, or U.S median,

whichever is greater, initially at

the start of the program.

Minnesota Housing will monitor

program use, need, and targeting

with the 100% AMI requirement

and requests the ability to increase

the AMI as needed to best meet

targeted, statewide demand, up to

the 150% AMI U.S. Department

of Treasury guidelines.

Establishing a 100% AMI overall income

requirement for direct HAF financial assistance

furthers the objective of the HAF by prioritizing

direct financial assistance resources to households

most in need. We estimate the need for some form

of direct financial assistance as likely over eight

times greater than the available HAF resources;

income based targeting will focus assistance on

those most in need and allow us to target 100% of

financial assistance to those at 100% AMI. Based on

data from the Census Bureau’s Pulse Survey, we

estimate that roughly:

• Just under 85% of people who are behind on their

mortgage payments have an income at or below

100% AMI.

• Homeowners with incomes at or below 100% of

AMI are three times more likely to be behind on

their mortgage payments than those above 100% of

AMI.

Setting the primary income limit at or below 100%

of AMI will also ensure that at least 60% qualified

expenses assist homeowners having incomes equal

to or less than 100% AMI.

Reinstatement

Term Sheet Clarification on reinstatement

Minnesota Housing adjusted the standard term sheet

language to clarify that reinstatement is eligible

under Minnesota Housing’s HAF plan and program.

Utilities/Home

Repair Ineligible under HAF program

Utility assistance home repair are not eligible uses

under Minnesota Housing’s HAF program.

Resources are available for these uses through

Minnesota’s Department of Commerce and

Minnesota Housing is coordinating with Commerce

on awareness and outreach.

Internet Ineligible under HAF program

Internet payments are not eligible under Minnesota

Housing’s HAF program given the HAF program

objectives which focus on preventing displacement

and in light of anticipated oversubscription of the

HAF resources in Minnesota.

Mortgage

Payment

Assistance

Ineligible under HAF program

Ongoing mortgage payment assistance is not

eligible under Minnesota Housing’s HAF program

given anticipated oversubscription of the HAF

resource in Minnesota.
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Documentation of Homeowner Income

Homeowners are eligible to receive amounts allocated to a HAF participant under the HAF only if they have

incomes equal to or less than 150% of the area median income or 100% of the median income for the United

States, whichever is greater. In addition, not less than 60% of amounts made available to each HAF

participant must be used for qualified expenses that assist homeowners having incomes equal to or less than

100% of the area median income or equal to or less than 100% of the median income for the United States,

whichever is greater. The HAF guidance describes permissible ways for HAF participants to determine

homeowner income.

Under the HAF guidance, one permissible approach for determining income is for (1) the household to

provide a written attestation as to household income and (2) the HAF participant to use a reasonable

fact-specific proxy for household income, such as reliance on data regarding average incomes in the

household’s geographic area. Will the Participant allow income to be determined in this way?

Yes

If yes, please describe the fact-specific proxy or proxies to be used for the income determination.

Minnesota Housing anticipates permitting a fact-specific proxy for household income in certain

instances, to be defined by Minnesota Housing, including location within a low-income zip code.

We acknowledge that loan servicers may have other income documentation requirements for a

loan reinstatement or modification, separate from the HAF program guidelines.

Under the HAF guidance, HAF participants may provide waivers or exceptions to this documentation

requirement as reasonably necessary to accommodate extenuating circumstances, such as disabilities,

practical challenges related to the pandemic, or a lack of technological access by homeowners; in these cases,

the HAF participant is still responsible for making the required determination regarding household income

and documenting that determination. Will the Participant allow applicants to request such waivers or

exceptions?

Yes

Eligible Mortgage Types

Please indicate which of the following mortgage types are eligible to be assisted under one or more of the

Participant’s program design elements.

 First Mortgages 

 Reverse Mortgages (Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, Single-Purposes Reverse Mortgages, or

Proprietary Reverse Mortgages) 

 Contracts for Deed or Land Contract (if it is a credit transaction secured by a consensual security

interest in a dwelling) 

 Second Mortgages 

 Loans Secured by Manufactured Housing (secured by real estate or dwelling) 

If the Participant excludes any of the forgoing mortgage types from one or more program design elements,

explain the exclusion.
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N/A

How Will the Participant Target HAF Resources Consistent with Statutory

Requirements? 

The Participant must describe how it will target HAF resources in accordance with the HAF guidance.

Targeting strategies are affirmative efforts to inform, encourage the participation of, and facilitate access to

resources for targeted households, including by offering multiple intake formats, engaging with nonprofit

organizations (e.g., housing counselors or legal services organizations) to provide additional pathways into

the program, and providing community outreach, partnerships with housing counseling agencies or legal aid

organizations, or other educational services that are aligned with the HAF participant’s program design, in a

manner that is culturally and linguistically relevant to the targeted communities.

Defining Socially Disadvantaged Individual

Please describe the process the Participant will use to determine whether a homeowner is a “socially

disadvantaged individual” as defined in the HAF guidance.

Minnesota Housing will determine whether a homeowner is a “socially disadvantaged

individual” through the following ways:

1. Self-attestation by a member of a group that has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice

or cultural bias. This will include self-attestation for Black, Indigenous and homeowners of color.

It will also include self-attestation for people with disabilities. 

2. Geocoding, or mapping, capabilities for application processing for homeowners in a

majority-minority census tract. Of Minnesota’s 1,338 census tracts, 119 are majority-minority

and have about 8% of the state’s population. They are in 12 counties: Anoka, Becker, Beltrami,

Carlton, Cass, Dakota, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, Mahnomen, Nobles, Ramsey and Washington.

3. Self-attestation for a household with limited English proficiency (using the LEP definition

based on the lep.gov website and guidance). Based on the data provided at LEP website, in six

Minnesota counties, more than 5% of the population has LEP: Hennepin, Ramsey, Olmsted,

Mower, Nobles and Watonwan. 

4. We will consider self-attestation for a resident of an Indian reservation, or the possibility of

using geocoding, to identify this population. 

5. Minnesota does not have any persistent-poverty counties. 

Minnesota Housing anticipates prioritizing Socially Disadvantaged Individuals as required by

the federal government through targeted outreach, marketing, community engagement and

communications strategies.

Public Communications

Will the Participant engage in a public communications campaign to raise awareness among targeted

populations about the availability of HAF resources, in media such as television, newspapers, online media,

or social media?

Yes
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If yes, please indicate whether the public communications campaign will include communications that

primarily target the following populations:

 Homeowners earning less than 100% of area median income 

 member of a group that has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within

American society; 

 resident of a majority-minority Census tract; (3) 

 resident of a U.S. territory, Indian reservation, or Hawaiian Home Land 

 homeowners in persistent poverty counties; 

 individual with limited English proficiency 

Please indicate in which languages, in addition to English, public communications to targeted populations

will be undertaken:

Spanish; Other

Please list any other languages.

Hmong, Somali

Outreach

Will the Participant engage in outreach through partnerships with organizations that focus primarily on

serving homeowners earning incomes below 100% of area median income or socially disadvantaged

individuals and that have the capacity to engage targeted communities in a culturally and linguistically

relevant manner to encourage the submission of applications for HAF resources from targeted populations?

Yes

If yes, please indicate whether the community outreach efforts will include partnerships with organizations

that primarily target the following populations:

 member of a group that has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within

American society; 

 resident of a majority-minority Census tract; (3) individual with limited English proficiency; 

 resident of a U.S. territory, Indian reservation, or Hawaiian Home Land;

 homeowners that reside in persistent poverty counties; 

 individual with limited English proficiency. 

Please list any other languages.

Hmong, Somali
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Housing Counseling and Legal Services

Will the Participant facilitate access for eligible households to housing counseling or legal services?

Yes

If yes, please identify below the providers of housing counseling or legal services that have indicated to the

Participant that they are willing and able to support homeowners receiving assistance under the Participant’s

HAF programs. 

Provider Name 

Provider Address 

Provider Website

Provider

Primarily

Serves

LMI

Households

Provider

Addresses

Impact of

Housing

Discrimination

RFP Forthcoming to contract with providers

Minnesota Housing | 400 Wabasha Street Suite 200, Saint Paul,

Minnesota 55102

http://www.mnhousing.gov

Targeting specific groups of homeowners

Will the Participant conduct outreach specifically tailored to target potentially eligible households that:

 have mortgages or mortgage assistance contracts held or backed by the Participant? 

 have mortgages backed by any of the following agencies: Federal Housing Administration;

Department of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Department of Agriculture? 

 have privately held mortgages? 

What Efforts will be Made to Address Barriers to HAF Program Participation for

Potentially Eligible Homeowners, Including Those with Limited English

Proficiency or Who are Disabled?

Targeted outreach may be needed to reach homeowners who are likely to experience barriers to access,

including persons with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities.

Indicate all of the languages, in addition to English, in which the Participant’s HAF application and other

program documents will be made available.

Spanish; Other

Please list any other languages.

Hmong, Somali

Will the Participant’s HAF applications and other program documents be provided in forms that are

accessible to persons with disabilities?
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Yes
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Performance Goals

Treasury will consider the goals and benchmarks the Participant proposes to use to measure the effectiveness

of its programs, including whether those goals address the homeowner needs identified by the Participant, the

extent to which the goals are disaggregated by key homeowner characteristics as appropriate for the

jurisdiction, and whether they include a goal focused on reducing mortgage delinquency.

Please describe Participant’s goals and benchmarks for each of its programs with the following program

design elements.
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Program Design

Element Metric of Success Goal

Mortgage

Principal

Reduction

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and need a loan

modification to make the mortgage affordable going forward

Assist 1,800

homeowner

households

Payment

Assistance for

Homeowner’s

Insurance

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and are made

current

Assist 6,500

homeowner

households

Payment

Assistance for

HOA fees or liens

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and are made

current

Assist 1,900

homeowner

households

Facilitate

Mortgage Interest

Rate Reduction

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and need a loan

modification to make the mortgage affordable going forward

Assist 200

homeowner

households

Payment

Assistance for

Down Payment

Assist. Loans

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and are made

current

Assist 100

homeowner

households

Payment

Assistance for

Delinquent

Property Taxes

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and are made

current

Assist 6,500

homeowner

households

Mortgage

Reinstatement

Number of homeowners who are at risk of displacement or

foreclosure by being delinquent on their payments and are made

current

Assist 5,700

homeowner

households

Other measures to

prevent

homeowner

displacement

Number of homeowners who receive lot rent, land contract and other

assistance

Assist 200

homeowner

households

Other measures to

prevent

homeowner

displacement

Share of assisted households with income at or below 80% AMI 75%

Other measures to

prevent

homeowner

displacement

Share of assisted households who are SDI 45%

Other measures to

prevent

homeowner

displacement

Share of HAF funding expended/paid by 12/31/2024 100%
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Readiness

Staffing, Systems and Contractors 

Treasury seeks information regarding the Participant’s organizational capacity to implement its HAF Plan.

Does the Participant anticipate needing to hire additional staff to implement this HAF Plan?

Yes

Does the Participant anticipate significant information technology system upgrades to implement this HAF

Plan?

Yes

Does the Participant have policies or procedures that govern the implementation of each HAF program

design element described in this HAF Plan?

No

If no, is a policy and procedure in development for each HAF program design element described in this HAF

Plan?

Yes

Will the Participant use HAF funds to assist eligible households through a program that was operational

before the Participant first received HAF funds?

No

Will the Participant use any third-party contractor or partner to conduct program administration (such as

reviewing applications, determining eligibility, processing payments, conducting reporting, and reviewing

compliance) for some or all of the Participant’s HAF programs?

Yes

If yes, has the Participant entered into all necessary arrangements with all of the third-party contractors or

partners that will conduct program administration?

No

Use of Initial Payment

If the Participant has already received any HAF funds from Treasury, provide the following information

about the use of such funds as of June 30, 2021.
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What amount of the HAF funds that the Participant has received been disbursed to eligible homeowners?

$0.00

Has the Participant begun accepting applications from homeowners for any HAF-funded programs?

No

How much of the HAF funds that the Participant has received been obligated?

$9,196.41

Provide a brief description of how the Participant has used the HAF funds it has received.

HAF funds have been used to support organizational expenses associated with administering the

HAF program. Staffing expenses, including hiring a Program Manager, have been expended.

Through June 30, 2021, $9,196.41 in staff expenses have been incurred.
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Budget

Budgeting of HAF Funds by Program Design Element 

Specify the amounts of HAF funds that the Participant proposes to allocate to each of the following program

design elements, if offered:

Measure Amount

Mortgage Payment Assistance $0.00

Mortgage Principal Reduction $19,550,584.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Internet Service $0.00

Payment Assistance for HOA fees or liens $3,040,000.00

Payment Assistance for Delinquent Property Taxes $11,050,000.00

Mortgage Reinstatement $60,452,129.00

Facilitate Mortgage Interest Rate Reduction $2,172,287.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowner’s Insurance $11,700,000.00

Payment Assistance for Down Payment Assist. Loans $649,356.00

Payment Assistance for Homeowners Utilities $0.00

Other measures to prevent homeowner displacement

Measure Amount

NA $0.00

Displacement Prevention Sub-Total $108,614,356.00

Counseling or Legal Services

The Participant may allocate up to 5% of its HAF funds for counseling or educational efforts by housing

counseling agencies approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or a tribal government,

or legal services, target to households eligible to be served with funding from the HAF related to foreclosure

prevention or displacement.
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Specify the Participant’s allocations for the following Amount

Counseling or Educational Services $0.00

Legal Services $750,000.00

Services Sub-Total $750,000.00

Reimbursement of Funds Expended After January 21, 2020

As described in the HAF guidance, HAF funds may be used for reimbursement of certain expenses between

January 21, 2020 and the date when the first HAF funds are disbursed by the HAF participant under the HAF

for a qualified expense (with certain limitations, as set forth in the HAF guidance).

Type of Expense Amount

NA $0.00

Reimbursement Sub-Total $0.00

Allocation of Administrative Expenses

Type of Expense Amount

Staffing and Contingency $3,000,000.00

Community Engagement $375,000.00

Marketing $484,000.00

Vendors – End-to-end Services, Processing, Technology $15,440,592.00

Administrative Expenses Sub-Total $19,299,592.00

Total Plan Requested Amount $128,663,948.00

Amount Requested Confirmation:

Yes
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Contacts

Please identify up to three contacts for the Participant- a primary contact, a designated point of contact for

reporting, and an additional contact.

Primary Contact

Name: Judi Mortenson

Agency/Office: Minnesota Housing

Email: judi.mortenson@state.mn.us

Phone Number: 6512972678

Reporting Contact

Name: Jessica Deegan

Agency/Office: Minnesota Housing

Email: jessica.deegan@state.mn.us

Phone Number: 6512973120

Additional Contact

Name: Devon Pohlman

Agency/Office: Minnesota Housing

Email: devon.pohlman@state.mn.us

Phone Number: 6512968255

Proprietary or Otherwise Non-Public Information

Does your plan submission include any information or materials that are proprietary or otherwise non-public?

No

If "Yes," please indicate which information or materials are proprietary or otherwise non-public.
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Title VI Assurances

You must provide on behalf of the HAF Participant assurances that the HAF Participant will comply with

Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964. Please download the assurances, then review, sign, and upload the

signed copy to this page before submitting the HAF Plan.

Title Upload Date

6. HAF-Title VI Assurance (JH Signature 8.23.21) 8/25/2021 12:26 PM
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Official Certification

I (the undersigned) certify that the information provided in the HAF submission is accurate and complete

after reasonable inquiry of people, systems, and other information available to the HAF Participant. The HAF

participant and I acknowledge that any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation

(or concealment or omission of material fact) in this submission may be the subject of criminal prosecution

under the False Statements Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and also may subject

me and HAF Participant to civil penalties and/or administrative remedies for false claims or otherwise,

(including 31 U.S.C. §3729 et seq.). I am an authorized representative of HAF Participant with authority to

make the above certifications and representations on behalf of the HAF Participant.

Name of HAF Participant:

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

Name and Title of Certifying Official

Name: Jennifer Ho

Title: Commissioner

Telephone: 6512965738

Email: jennifer.ho@state.mn.us