ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Provided bus tours (in September 2006, May 2008, September 22, 2009, and September 2010.) that allowed people from the community (public officials, church and business leaders, and interested citizens) to tour lifecycle housing sites in Maple Grove, including affordable senior housing, workforce housing for people with stable modest-income jobs, and sites where future developments will be built.
  
  
• Raised $41,500 to use towards the first land trust home in Maple Grove. Our partner, the non-profit Homes within Reach, secured the remainder of the funding, purchased a suitable home, and solicited and screened homeowner applications. A young family moved into Housing for All's first land trust home - and their first family home - in January 2009. Based partly on this success, the City of Maple Grove has agreed to contribute CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds toward a second and third land trust home in our community. Go to www.homeswithinreach.org for more information on becoming a land trust homeowner.
  
  
• Helped gain City Council approval for the Maple Village project, which provides 54 affordable housing units for modest-income families.  Maple Village opened on June 1, 2009 with all 54 units rented.  Phase ll is waiting for funding approval, which could potentially add 48 units. Our strategies included attending and testifying at city council meetings, sending letters and emails, meeting with potential neighbors of the development and developing relationships with the business community to gain their support.
  
  
• Worked with City staff and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan sub-committee to ensure that the draft of the revised Comprehensive Plan included language favorable to affordable lifecycle housing. The Plan, with this favorable language, was adopted in Fall 2008.
  
  
• Formed a Business Roundtable consisting of leaders from local area businesses who have an interest in and commitment to workforce housing for their employees. Established in early 2008, the Roundtable meets at local community locations once a year.
  
  
• Educated and raised awareness of the issue of affordable housing by having a float in the Maple Grove Days parade in 2007 and 2008.
  
  
• Participated in the Business Expo as part of Maple Grove Days in July of 2009, 2010 and 2011.
  
  
• Is working with and supporting the residents of Hickory Ridge Townhomes as they attempt to get many serious maintenance issues resolved in their homes. Housing for All is also advocating for keeping Hickory Ridge as the only family designated project based Section 8 development in Maple Grove. The residents of this development are primarily women, children and disabled people.

Housing for All is confident that these accomplishments, along with our ongoing efforts, will help ensure the availability of a broad range of housing opportunities in Maple Grove. Research has shown that affordable housing benefits the entire community by providing stability for families, decreasing reliance on government, and supporting economic growth for local companies.

Housing for All meets the second Tuesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Roxanne Smith at 763.425.6505 x 226, or via email at rsstjoes@yahoo.com.