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.
Notice of Funding Availability
The Coalition is pleased to announce that again this year we will be providing up to $1.5 Million in funding to assist applicants of the Minnesota Housing competitive 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 Housing Tax Credit Round 1 competition to secure funding for affordable rental housing creation projects in the Greater Rochester Area.
Timeline
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Notice of Funding Availability |
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 |
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Application Available |
Friday, April 4, 2025 |
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Application Due |
Friday, May 9, 2025 |
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Coalition Leadership Council Meeting |
Thursday, June 5, 2025 |
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Notification of Gap Funding Awards |
Thursday, June 12, 2025 |
For a complete copy of the NOFA click here.
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)
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.
2024 Collective Impact
In 2024, we sought to continue collaborating, investing, and leading on innovative solutions to meet our communities’ housing needs. Below are the final totals that we achieved in the Rochester Area. Read more here: 2024 Coalition Impact
Invested in 11 Projects
Total Invested
Homes Created and Preserved
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 Executive Director JoMarie Morris, jomarie@rochesterarea.org or 507-424-2417.
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 Executive Director JoMarie Morris, jomarie@rochesterarea.org or 507-424-2417 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.