Coalition for Rochester Area Housing
The Coalition for Rochester Area Housing (“The Coalition”) is a cross-sector community partnership of Rochester Area Foundation, the City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, Olmsted County, and Destination Medical Center established to create and preserve affordable housing through collective impact.
Our Mission
To Collaborate, Invest, and Lead on Innovative Solutions to Meet Our Communities’ Housing Needs.
The Need
The updated 2020 Olmsted County Comprehensive Housing Needs Study projected that 18,144 Olmsted County Housing Units (1800 units per year) were needed from 2020 – 2030 to meet our housing demand. One-third of this demand is for senior housing options. Here are links to one page Ownership Housing Needs and Rental Housing Needs summaries.
The Gap Continues to Grow
Housing production has not met this demand and each year we are falling farther behind. In the last four years we have only produced an average of 1000 units annually. As a result, our housing need is now closer to 2400 units annually.
The gaps identified in the Housing Needs Assessment AND the community stakeholders including the Housing Alliance informed the Coalition’s adopted five priorities:
Our Priorities
- Create new affordable homeownership opportunities
- Increase homeownership for People of Color
- Increase housing options for those earning less than 50% AMI*
- Preserve existing affordable homeownership and rental housing
- Create additional Senior Housing options
*Note: 100% Area Median Income (“AMI”) for an Olmsted County family of 4 is $117,200 in 2024 according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Our Goal
Create and Preserve 1000 housing units in 4 years (2023-26). To date, the Coalition has invested approximately $8MM** toward this goal to create and preserve 543 affordable home options.
**Note: Some investments are contingent upon additional funding awards.
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Progress to Goal
Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Leadership
JoMarie Morris
Executive Director
JoMarie Leth Morris grew up on a farm near Byron, Minnesota. She is an honors graduate of William Mitchell College of Law and served as a partner at Klampe, Delehanty & Morris law firm in Rochester for 18 years practicing civil litigation and immigration. JoMarie’s passion for affordable housing is born from her experience leading efforts to build and launch a Jeremiah Program campus for single mothers and their children to disrupt generational poverty in Southeast Minnesota.
Jeff Urban
Project Development & Community Outreach Director
Jeff grew up on a dairy farm in St. Charles, MN and has worked in the non-profit world for the past 30 years, primarily focused on building and housing projects. He oversaw the creation of Camp Victory’s 200-acre camp in the early 2000’s and then did work for The Salvation Army and Bear Creek Church. Over the past 6-7 years, Jeff headed up the conversion of a small, college campus into a growing, affordable housing complex. Jeff loves to find creative solutions to local housing funding and building challenges.
Investment Highlights: Senior Housing
Coalition Investments to advance housing options of our community seniors breaking ground in 2024:
Harvest West
By local developer Bigelow Homes will create 44 affordable homeownership opportunities for seniors 55+. These accessible slab foundation townhomes with attached two car garages will be located directly to the South of Gibbs Elementary School and contain 22 buildings with two units each. The streets within the subdivision will be private and managed and maintained by a Homeowners Association. The initial plans include a dog park and a pavilion for the use of the association members. The Coalition is providing 0% interest infrastructure and construction loans and the City of Rochester is committing funding through the economic vitality program with fee reimbursement to make this project a reality for our community. This project will serve senior households at or below 115% Area Median Income.
Trailside Apartments
Developed by the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is a rental housing project that will serve 36 low-income senior households in the community. This Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project is a great example of the Coalition’s collective impact. Without Coalition gap funding, City of Rochester fee waivers, and the Olmsted County Board’s approval of land donation, and Payment In Lieu of Taxes, this safe, affordable housing option would not be an option for our most vulnerable senior population. In addition to this extensive collaboration with community partners on this project, the Olmsted County HRA will provide full rental subsidies to all 36 units, ensuring that tenants will pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Rendering of plans for Olmsted County’s proposed Trailside Apartments at 1001 Mayowood Road SW for an affordable three-story apartment complex for people 55 years and older. Contributed by Olmsted County.
What is the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing?
The Coalition is a collaborative cross-sector community organization that leverages combined funding and policy tools to advance the creation and preservation of affordable and workforce priced housing in the Rochester area.
Rochester Area Foundation provides administrative support for the Coalition.
How does the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing work?
Anyone can bring an idea or proposal to the coalition by contacting Coalition staff. Coalition staff evaluate the ideas and consider input from the Housing Alliance and other stakeholders to determine the viability of moving an idea or proposal forward.
The Housing Alliance, which is made up of community members, nonprofit leaders, housing industry experts, advocacy groups, government leaders, and housing producers is the group that monitors community needs, housing trends, and innovations. They will provide guidance to Coalition Staff, and to the Leadership Council based on their broad knowledge base, diverse constituencies, and community engagement efforts.
The Housing Alliance meets the second Wednesday of the month from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Rochester Area Foundation Community Room and via Zoom. If you’re interested in attending Housing Alliance meetings or receiving meeting summaries, reach out to Project Development and Outreach Director, Jeff Urban, at jurban@rochesterarea.org or 507-261-0720.
The Leadership Council is a decision-making group of community leaders that come to a consensus about how, and if, they can collaboratively fund recommended projects. Members of the Coalition Leadership Council include representatives from the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, Mayo Clinic, RAF, and Destination Medical Center. These organizations have committed significant resources to the Rochester Area Housing Fund held at RAF to fund project proposals.
Anyone can donate any amount to the Rochester Area Housing Fund to increase the amount of money available for these affordable housing projects. The RAF Board of Trustees provides financial oversight to the Rochester Area Housing Fund, just like any other fund held at RAF.
How do I apply for Coalition funding?
Funding from the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing may be requested by completing the Funding Application linked here. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to Coalition Project Development and Outreach Director, Jeff Urban, at jurban@rochesterarea.org or 507-261-0720 prior to submitting an application to discuss the proposed project and address any questions about the application process.
How can I be involved in the Coalition?
Great question! The answer depends on how you want to be involved.
If you want to donate to the Coalition and become an official supporter, you can click here, and select the Rochester Area Housing Fund on the form. Donations of any amount help us provide more affordable housing in the Rochester Area.
To be considered for participation in the Leadership Council – the financing group – a commitment of $250,000 is required. Participants in this group must have sufficient resources because the group’s role in the Coalition process is to use that funding to implement the projects that are recommended with input from the Housing Alliance.
If you have a specific idea or proposal about how to provide more affordable housing in the Rochester Area, or you’re interested in serving on the Housing Alliance, you can reach out to the Coalition Executive Director JoMarie Morris at jomarie@rochesterarea.org or 507-424-2417.
If your group is interested in learning more about the lack of affordable housing in the Rochester area, you can request a presentation by contacting Rochester Area Foundation through the contact information provided above.