The Community Homeownership Impact Fund

The Housing Challenge Funds for Schools RFP is a competitive application process that deploys Economic Development and Housing Challenge funds authorized under Minnesota Statute Section 462A.33. Grant funds are available for direct costs related to the construction of homes, including building materials, construction tools, subcontractors and professional labor. Grants may be awarded to a school district, charter school, or cooperative unit as defined in Minnesota Statute 123A.24 subdivision 2. Individual grant awards will be less than $100,000.00.

All applicants must complete the Application, Workbook and applicable Risk Assessment form below. Charter schools organized as nonprofit organizations may also need to complete an Internal Controls Certification form. 

Applications are due Thursday, March 6, 2025, by 12 p.m. Central Time.

• Housing Challenge Funds for Schools RFP Application Instructions
• Housing Challenge Funds for Schools Application revised 2/10/2025 
• Housing Challenge Funds for Schools Workbook
• Risk Assessment Form - Political Subdivisions
• Risk Assessment Form - Nonprofit Organizations
• Internal Controls Certification - Nonprofit Organizations
• Income Limits

Training and resources are available to help applicants with questions about the Housing Challenge Funds for Schools RFP.

Questions and answers will be posted on this webpage as a Frequently Asked Questions resource, and the deadline to ask questions or receive technical assistance is Friday, February 14, 2025, at 12 p.m.

Minnesota Housing staff will not review applications and will not make programmatic suggestions. Receiving technical assistance does not ensure that applicants will have a complete application, or that the application will be selected for funding.

• Contact Amanda Hedlund at amanda.hedlund@state.mn.us for technical assistance.
• Watch the Housing Challenge Funds for Schools RFP Information Session recording.
• View the slides with notes from the Housing Challenge Funds for Schools RFP Information Session 
• Read Frequently Asked Questions submitted as of noon on February 14, 2025

If using Firefox, you may be prompted to open the file or save the file. Please use “Save As” option to download all Excel files rather than “Open.”

• Single Family RFP Application Instructions, revised 5/28/2024

• Income Limits

All applicants must complete the General Application and applicable Risk Assessment form. Nonprofit organizations and for-profit business entities may also need to complete the applicable Internal Controls Certification form.

• General Application
• Risk Assessment Form - For-Profit Business Entities
• Risk Assessment Form - Nonprofit Organizations
• Risk Assessment Form - Political Subdivisions
• Internal Controls Certification - For-Profit Business Entities
• Internal Controls Certification - Nonprofit Organizations

Only complete the applicable Activity Section(s).

New Community Land Trust applicants that have not applied through the Single Family RFP previously must complete the Community Land Trust Supplemental Application.

• Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Resale Activity Application
• Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Resale Activity Workbook revised 7/3/24
• Also see the Single Family Green Communities Resources section below.
  
  

• Affordability Gap Application
• Affordability Gap Workbook
  
  

• New Construction Activity Application
• New Construction Workbook revised 6/13/24
• New Construction School Workbook revised 6/13/24
• Prevailing Wage Certification (if applicable)
• Also see Single Family Green Communities Resources section below
  
  

• Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Application revised 5/21/24
• Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Workbook revised 5/21/24
• Also see the Lead-Based Paint Guidebook in the Green Resources section below
  
  

• Tribal Indian Housing Program Application
• Tribal Indian Housing Program Workbook revised 6/13/24
  
  

• Community Land Trust (CLT) Supplemental Application (Only for new CLTs that have not applied through the Single Family RFP previously.)

• School Supplemental Activity Application

• Community Profiles
• Increase Housing Choice
• Community Recovery
• Rural/Tribal Designated Areas
• Workforce Housing
• Location Efficiency
  
  

• Greater Minnesota Housing Fund: Single Family Housing Program Guide
  
  

• 2023-2024 Minnesota Overlay & Guide to the 2020 Green Communities Criteria
• 2020 Green Communities Criteria
• 2023-2024 Single Family Intended Methods Worksheet
• 2020 Single Family Green Communities Criteria Waiver Request Form

• 2024 Single Family RFP Information Session Recording
• 2024 Single Family RFP Information Session Slides
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) as of 6/21/2024
• Greater Minnesota Housing Fund Program Information Training Presentation
  
  

In the Community Profiles, Minnesota Housing uses 24 indicators to identify communities by housing need. While the need for more affordable housing is substantial and increasing in Minnesota, limited resources are available to meet the need. The Community Profiles offer one tool to assist in guiding investment decisions to maximize impact.

• 2009-2015 Production Map (with instructions to view layers)
• Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan Program Feature Sheet
• Minnesota DEED Small Cities Development Program
• Greater Minnesota Housing Fund Single Family Housing Program Guide
• USDA Rural Development Section 504 Home Repair Program
• USDA Rural Development Section 504: Offices and Contacts in Minnesota

• Minnesota Weatherization Field Guide
  
  

• Energy Star Partner List
  
  

• Lead-Based Paint Guidebook
• Lead-Based Paint Summary Form
  
  

• Radon Zone Map of Minnesota
• Radon Resources for Builders and Contractors
• Minnesota Department of Health Radon Mitigation Contractors
  
  

• Environmental Review Requirements - (If Phase 1 is required)
  
  

• Asbestos Minnesota Contractors List
• Asbestos Inspection Survey
  
  

• Minnesota Department of Health's Healthy Homes for Professionals resources