Community Choice Demonstration Program

The Community Choice Demonstration Program (CCD) is a partnership between Metro Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA) and Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) that helps families with Housing Choice Vouchers find homes in designated Opportunity Areas. These are neighborhoods in areas that have historically been difficult for families with vouchers to move into because of systemic barriers, such as the cost of housing in these areas or a lack of eligible property owners that accept vouchers. However, they can provide many benefits to families, such as higher-quality schools and other public amenities.

The CCD is a part of a national demonstration funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The demonstration studies the effect of additional services on families’ ability to move into Opportunity Areas. Families interested in receiving services must sign up for the study and will be randomly selected to receive services. For more information about the national demonstration, click here.

Where are these Opportunity Areas located?

See Address Locator Tool  for Opportunity Areas in Metro HRA and MPHA service areas

How does a family get involved in this program?

Families with MPHA vouchers should contact Jinaa Lane at 612.342.2201 or communitychoice@mplspha.org. Families with Met Council vouchers interested in enrolling in the study, see here . Some families on the waitlist will also be invited to apply to participate in the Demonstration.

The demonstration is completely voluntary. Families are not required to participate.

What services do families receive if they are part of the program?

If selected to receive services, eligible Metro HRA and MPHA families receive services such as:

  1. Pre-move and post-move coaching

  2. Housing search assistance

  3. Financial assistance to help cover moving-related expenses for a home in an Opportunity Area such as security deposits and application fees.

More information for families is available here.

What can I do as a property owner to get involved and support this program?

Metro HRA and MPHA have also taken steps to ensure payments for homes in the Opportunity Areas are affordable for families and competitive for the property owners in the private rental market. Owners in Opportunity Areas who rent to families selected for mobility-related services receive financial incentives, including a lease-up bonus. Program staff work with families and property owners to facilitate good tenant-owner matches and positive relationships between them. More information for property owners is available here.