Hoy Honored
IOCP executive director LaDonna Hoy will be recognized ith the Outstanding Achievement in Ending Long-term Homelessness Award by Minnesota Housing. Under her leadership, IOCP spearheaded the development of 54 units of affordable housing in Plymouth and Wayzata in 2007; four of those units were designated for the long-term homeless.
The Feb. 29 event, “Partners in Affordable Housing: Policy Workshops and Awards,” is an annual celebration of excellence in affordable housing sponsored by Minnesota Housing. Two concurrent policy workshops in the morning will address housing market trends and opportunities, and the role of the business community in the state’s plan to end homelessness.
Congressman Jim Ramstad will receive the first Jim Ramstad Lifetime Achievement Award for his tenacious leadership on behalf of affordable housing in Minnesota throughout his 18 years in public service. Ramstad will give the keynote address at 12:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony.
Twelve other individuals, businesses, and organizations that will be recognized for their efforts related to affordable housing, including Bremer Bank, Center for Energy and Environment, Countrywide Home Loans, Edina Realty, and Minnesota Foreclosure Partners Council.
The event, which begins at 9:30 a.m., will be held at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, 175 Kellogg Blvd. West, St. Paul. To register, go to www.mnhousing.gov.
About Minnesota Housing
Minnesota Housing is a state agency committed to finance and advance affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income Minnesotans to enhance quality of life and foster strong communities. Over the next two years Minnesota Housing plans to invest more than $1.6 billion to further its four strategic priorities: finance new affordable housing opportunities; preserve existing affordable housing; end long-term homelessness; and increase emerging market homeownership.
To support its efforts to end long-term homelessness, the agency is seeking $30 million in bonding money this legislative session. The money would be used to issue nonprofit bonds to finance permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing or at risk of long-term homelessness. A small portion of the bonding money would be used for persons who are homeless but don’t meet the definition of long-term homeless.
About Congressman Jim Ramstad
As a member of Congress since 1991, Rep. Ramstad has co-authored legislation to create a national affordable housing trust fund, modernize the housing bond and Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs, provide “exit tax” relief to sellers of affordable housing property in order to keep the property affordable, and, most notably, partnered with the late U.S. Rep. Bruce Vento to provide federal matching funds to assist states and localities in preserving federal housing. Ramstad also authored legislation allowing state housing agencies to use mortgage revenue bonds to help hurricane victims rebuild their homes, which became law in the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act.
Ramstad has been a key supporter of legislation that would expand FHA authority to increase loan limits as well as establish an affordable housing grant fund to be used to purchase homes for low-income families and to fund Section 8 housing. Ramstad supported legislation last year to reform the Section 8 voucher program and authorize 20,000 new vouchers for each fiscal year through 2012.
Ramstad serves on the Steering Committee for Heading Home Minnesota, is actively involved in Wayzata’s Habitat for Humanity, and has worked extensively with Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners to create more low-income housing. He has been involved with IOCP’s annual “Sleep Out” campaign since its inception in 1996.
