As the largest public housing provider in the state, MPHA helps provide more than 26,000 people access quality, stable, affordable housing every day. But the agency’s impact goes beyond just residents and program participants—MPHA invests millions in the local economy every year through contracted projects and services. In 2024, MPHA paid out $106,369,980 in contracts to local landlords, construction companies, social service providers, and more.
“MPHA is committed to ensuring its investments go as far as possible to make a lasting positive impact in our community,” said Abdi Warsame, Executive Director/CEO of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. “I frequently talk about the agency’s need for financial assistance from state and local leaders to tackle MPHA’s growing capital backlog, but that support goes both ways. We at MPHA are proud to have invested more than one hundred million dollars in the local economy just last year.”
The largest portion of MPHA’s investment in the Twin Cities economy comes from administering more than 7,000 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). Through MPHA’s HCV program, the agency provides participants with a rental subsidy and partners with landlords in the private rental market. Last year, the agency allocated more than $75 million in Housing Assistance Payments to local landlords on behalf of nearly 20,000 people who benefit from vouchers in Minneapolis.
With the agency’s capital backlog estimated at more than $260 million, MPHA has substantial construction and renovation work to complete every year. For the most complex projects, MPHA routinely contracts with local construction companies to supplement the work of its own in-house team of skilled maintenance and tradespeople. Recent examples include installing fire suppression systems in all 42 agency high-rises and major exterior enveloping renovations in the agency’s scattered site family homes. In 2024, MPHA spent more than $31 million with local contractors on the agency’s various construction projects.
Other major investments include security and social services, which are routinely MPHA residents’ top two priorities in annual budget conversations. MPHA spends several million dollars every year on security and social services across its high-rise buildings and family housing portfolio. The agency leverages security personnel, property gates, secure building access, and more to ensure its buildings are secure. In 2024, the agency spent more than $5 million on security services.
To bring social services to residents, MPHA has a long-standing partnership with Volunteers of America. The services VOA team members deliver include helping residents through case management, health screenings and education, and referrals for additional support (food, health, etc.). For the past two decades, MPHA and Hennepin County have jointly funded VOA to provide MPHA residents these critical services. In recent years, MPHA has seen a greatly exacerbated need for these social services. In response, MPHA has increased its VOA funding to nearly $1 million a year.
Beyond helping house more than 26,000 people every day, the agency’s impact is felt across the regional economy through the millions it invests in contracted projects and services making the agency a key infrastructure and vital part of the community.
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Landlords interested in partnering with MPHA to rent to voucher holders can find more information on the property owners webpage.
Contractors looking for more information on bidding and to view current solicitations, visit the contracting opportunities webpage.
