Moving to Work (MTW) - Minneapolis Public Housing Authority

General Information

The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) manages nearly 5,900 units of public housing and administers over 3,600 Section 8 certificates and vouchers. MPHA's Amended and Restated MTW Agreement was executed on January 29, 2008 and will terminate September 30, 2018.

Status

The Section 8 Homeownership Demonstration Program under MTW, MOVING HOME, is MPHA's newest homeownership program designed to help families achieve their homeownership goals. This demonstration program was announced in the fall of 1998 and was designed to assist up to 50 MPHA Section 8 families purchase homes in Minneapolis. Approved families are able to use Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) toward a monthly mortgage payment, rather than rent. In developing this program, MPHA partnered with Norwest Mortgage, the Reinvestment Fund and Fannie Mae.

Goals

Assist families in improving their economic stability and self-sufficiency (Self-sufficiency, housing independence, and homeownership for families)

Agreement

Occupancy Policies

• Must be a current MPHA Section 8 certificate or voucher holder. (No port-in families)
• Must be a first-time homebuyer with at least one dependent living at home.
• One or both adults must be employed full-time for at least 1 year.
• Must be participating in and in compliance with MPHA's Family Self-Sufficiency program.
• Must have a minimum annual income of at least $16,000.
• Must meet standard underwriting criteria and be able to qualify for and obtain a mortgage from one of the two participating lenders.

Self-sufficiency Policies

• Homeownership counseling and education.
• Families pay only 30 percent of their income toward mortgage principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. The Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment is sent directly to the lender/servicer covering the balance of the mortgage payment. Families are reevaluated annually and may continue to receive Section 8 assistance for up to 5 years.
• Families may use up to 50 percent of their Family Self-sufficiency (FSS) escrow toward downpayment and closing costs.
• Closing cost assistance may be available to buyers through lender's first-time homebuyer program.
• Families continue to receive follow-up contacts annually to make sure the family is not experiencing any problems as a homeowner and to offer assistance and referrals when needed.

Support

Minneapolis Field Office
Office of Public Housing
Kinnard Financial Center
720 South Second Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401-2195
(612) 370-3135 ext. 2234
F (612) 370-3003
Dianne.Healy@hud.gov

Contact

MTW Contact Staff
Cora McCorvey, Executive Director
Bob Boyd, Primary Contact
(612) 342-1437
F (612) 342-1407
bboyd@mplspha.org