Minneapolis – As a part of the government funding package passed by Congress late last week, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority is slated to receive a direct appropriation of $2 million from the federal government to assist with the installation of fire suppression systems across the agency’s high rises. The appropriation, supported by Senators Smith and Klobuchar as well as Congresswoman Omar, will help the agency complete its fire suppression installation work quicker than previously scheduled.

“Since arriving at MPHA, I have prioritized investing in fire suppression systems for all MPHA high rises,” said Abdi Warsame, Executive Director/CEO of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. “While our work is ongoing with the limited capital funding HUD provides the agency, this funding secured by Senators Smith, Klobuchar, and Congresswoman Omar will allow MPHA to complete this critical work at an accelerated pace. I am incredibly thankful for their leadership to secure this new funding and for their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of public housing residents.”

Beginning in the mid-to-late 2000’s, MPHA began retrofitting its properties with sprinkler systems as part of a broader effort to improve fire safety in its high rises. To date, fire sprinkler systems have been installed in 18 of 42 high rises, with carbon monoxide/smoke detectors and stovetop firestop cans installed in all high-rise units.

When Executive Director Warsame assumed leadership of the agency in 2020, he elevated the priority of installing fire suppression systems in all the agency’s high-rise properties. The accelerated timeline called for completing the installation work within five years, requiring a significant investment of the agency’s limited Department of Housing and Urban Development-supplied (HUD) capital improvement funding.

Historically, MPHA has only received about ten percent of the funding necessary for major building improvements. In 2022, MPHA’s estimated capital funding is $16.3 Million, whereas the agency’s expanding capital improvement backlog is more than $160 million. Continued disinvestment in the capital fund has failed to cover the agency’s actual annual capital needs and prevents the agency from making critical and necessary improvements to its buildings.

In the agency’s 2021 Capital Plan, 11 high rises (containing 1,757 units) were identified to be retrofitted. This plan included $2.4 million from Minnesota Housing and $1.15 million from the City of Minneapolis, totaling nearly $14 million towards installing fire suppression systems. This work is ongoing and is expected to be completed over the next two years.

In the agency’s 2022 Capital Plan, another four high rises (containing 580 units) have been identified for the sprinkler retrofits. These installations are estimated to cost more than $4 million, with the City of Minneapolis contributing $1 million towards the work.

The remaining nine high rises (containing 367 units) in need of sprinkler retrofits are expected to cost nearly $3 million, with those funds not yet accounted for in MPHA capital planning. However, these costs are now almost fully covered by the $2 million federal appropriation and can be more quickly accommodated into agency capital improvement planning.