Internship Sites for Fall 2003 Course
1. Nonprofit Organizations:
ACORN
757 Raymond Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55114
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is an advocacy group for low and moderate-income families. It is the largest radical group in the country with 120,000 dues-paying members, chapters in 700 poor neighborhoods in 50 cities, and 30 years experience. It has an in-your-face strategy that works effectively at capturing public attention and winning adherents in cities. They work to warn people facing mortgage foreclosures about fraudulent rescue schemes that can leave them deeper in a financial hole (‘predatory lending’). ACORN accused Wells Fargo Home Mortgage of writing loans with high interest rates, excessive fees and harmful terms. ACORN also demanded in fall 2002 that Norm Coleman (US Senate candidate) return campaign contributions he received from the Household Finance Corporation because they were accused of misleading homeowners through deceptive and abusing lending practices (predatory lending).
ACORN offers workshops and meetings, hosts an annual Housing fair and works in collaboration with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) for specific programs.
Bus Directions (1 transfer): From Snelling and Grand Ave. take the 84 Snelling Av/Rosedale Bus (7 min) to University Av. @ Snelling Av. And transfer to the 16 Univ Av/Minneapolis (9 min) to University Av. @ Raymond Av. And walk N to destination.
HOUSING MINNESOTA
1821 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
http://www.housingminnesota.org/
Housing Minnesota is a coalition of housing groups that hosts meetings and conventions addressing what needs to be done to fix the MN housing crunch. The Homes for All gathering in 2002 was the largest affordable housing gathering ever held in the state.
They believe that a lot can be done rather cheaply to spur preservation of affordable units, shield tenants from maltreatment, and to boost the supply of cost-saving supportive housing. They continue the Homes for All campaign and actively encourage people to “take action” on their website. They provide many resources and attempt to get rid of the “myths” of affordable housing by making resources and information available to the general public. They provide legislative updates, updates on government offices that have a say in housing, the governor’s budget proposal, a lobby day key, fact sheets, and an affordable housing primer. They attempt to join with other groups, including unions in order to make their voice heard.
Bus Directions (1 transfer): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 84 Snelling Av/Rosedale bus to Snelling Av @ University (7min). Transfer to the 16 Univ Av/Minneapolis –ride until University @ Fairview Av. (3 min)
RONDO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
626 Selby Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
The Rondo Community Land Trust is a non-profit housing organization dedicated to creating and preserving affordable homeownership opportunities for low to moderate income households. They also build and maintain affordable housing and provide education and resources.
Homebuyers with Rondo Community Land Trust (CLT) purchase only the house and enter into a 99-year ground lease agreement with Rondo CLT for the land. By taking the cost of the land out of the real estate transaction, land trust homes are more affordable than houses on the open real estate market. Rondo CLT homeowners agree that when and if they choose to sell their homes, they will sell to another low-to-moderate income household and that they will sell the house for the original purchase price plus 25% of any increase in appreciation in the home’s value. By limiting market appreciation Rondo CLT ensures future affordability. At the same time, the homeowner earns equity and appreciation in real estate by owning their own home.
The Rondo neighborhood is undergoing urban revitalization that is actually raising rents in the area. The Land Trust addresses this issue because they are concerned that rents will become too expensive for the lower income individuals who have lived in the area for so many years and who have “made the turnaround possible”. It is thought that if this renewing trend continues, the housing stock will not be affordable to low and middle income blacks (the group that claimed the neighborhood as its own when whites abandoned it for the suburbs in the 1960s and ‘70s).
Bus Directions (1 transfer): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 84 Snelling Av/Rosedale bus to Snelling Av at Dayton (3 min). Transfer to the 21A Selby/Lake/St. Paul Bus and ride to Selby Av @ Dale St (15 min). Walk W to destination.
LEXINGTON HAMLINE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
1221 Marshall Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Lexington Hamline Community Council was St. Paul’s first neighborhood group. The purpose of the Lexington-Hamline Community Council is to improve the quality of life and bring about positive community change in the Lexington-Hamline neighborhood of St. Paul. This is done through the active involvement of neighborhood residents in community projects, programs, and direct action on issues which affect the neighborhood.
Over 30 years ago the residents of this neighborhood joined together to form the LHCC. They defined the boundaries of the area they wished to organize, gave the area a name - Lexington-Hamline -and incorporated a tax exempt, non-profit organization to manage and carry out the goals and objectives put forth by the residents. They have a housing committee that has addressed issues in the neighborhood and has resulted in bettering the housing stock of the neighborhood by initiating a group home maintenance program, coordinating grants for home improvements and monitoring other programs that could be of benefit to homeowners. Lex Ham Community Council also addresses crime prevention programs (home security surveys and grants were obtained, a liaison with the St. Paul Police Department was developed and a neighborhood watch program was initiated), street and sidewalk improvements, transportation issues (Selby Avenue Bridge, Ayd Mill Road, installation of a stop light at Griggs and Marshall, safer pedestrian crossings on Lexington Parkway and installation of stop signs on residential streets throughout our neighborhood) and recreation. They host an annual “garden shuffle”, a free garden tour, and Ice Cream social.
Bus directions (1 transfer): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 84 north to Snelling @ Dayton Av (3min). At same bus stop, change to 21A to continue North on Snelling to Selby Av. @ Griggs (10min). Walk North on Griggs two blocks to Marshall.
MODEL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
839 University Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
The agency mission is to promote the physical, mental, spiritual, social and economic well being of individuals, families and communities who are underserved. They administer many types of programs, but one includes entering into business ventures with franchisers in order to bring more businesses into depressed neighborhoods such as the Frogtown neighborhood (where they combined efforts with Big Apple Bagels). The goal in this case was to train so-called "hard to employ" people (people moving from welfare to work, recent immigrants who may have a language barrier, and people in recovery from substance abuse) for jobs.
Their Brownstone project, a $2.6 million effort to renovate a building at the corner of Victoria Street and University Avenue in St. Paul, is expected to serve as a business incubator of sorts. The building will house several different retailers in addition to the bagel shop. Also, the project will include support services such as childcare to allow participants to focus on their training and jobs.
Bus directions (1transfer): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av. 84 north bound to Snelling and University (7 min). Transfer to a 16 heading east on University and ride until Victoria St. (9 min). Walk half block east to destination.
COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES
35 Water St. W
St. Paul, MN
One of the four in the network of Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), Community Neighborhood Housing Services is an organization whose aim is to promote community development through education and affordable housing programs in the communities it serves. It is a full cycle lender and offers programs for first time home buyers including homebuyer workshops, individual loan counseling, down payment assistance and mortgage loans. They also offer home improvement loans and home rehab assistance for St. Paul homeowners. CNHS is an affiliate of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, a member of the Neighborworks Network, and a member of the Home Ownership Center. They are also certified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a Community Development Financial Institution.
Bus directions: From Grand Av. @ Snelling Av. On the 63 S E 3rd St. /Sunray Bus to 5th St. @ Wabasha/Cedar (20 min). Depart Cedar St. @ 5th St. and take the 67D Smith Av/signal Hills/Thompson Bus to Wabasha St @ Water ST. Walk 0.1 miles SW to destination.
CENTRAL COMMUNITY HOUSING TRUST
1625 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT) is an award-winning nonprofit developer of quality housing for the Twin Cities Metro Area, providing homes for more than 2,000 people annually. Its mission is to create and sustain quality affordable housing that strengthens lives and communities. Since 1987, CCHT has built and renovated 1,161 units of housing. CCHT renovates and builds housing with a strong emphasis on quality and community participation. It works with expert property management companies that provide day-to-day management and supports successful tenancy by offering workshops on budgeting and housekeeping and connecting residents with community social services.
2. Governmental Organizations:
ST PAUL PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
1400 City Hall Annex
25 West Fourth Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/depts/ped/
The Planning and Economic Development Department is one of 13 St. Paul city departments that falls under the control of the St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. Among other things, the department provides free mortgage foreclosure prevention services and housing loans to people in the Saint Paul area.
As the Mayor of St. Paul, Randy Kelly regularly addresses the topic of affordable housing. In his State of the City addresses in 2002 and 2003, Mayor Kelly prioritized affordable housing issues and encouraged partnerships between advocates, developers, trades-people, lenders, non-profits, foundations and volunteer groups. During his first term, he made a goal of adding 5,000 units of new housing over four years to meet the city’s affordable housing targets. The Housing 5000 initiative, part of “Building a Better Community in a Billion ways” is one of his top priorities.
Kelly distinguishes between low income and affordable housing. He acknowledges that St. Paul requires any project using public funds to incorporate 20% of housing to be low-income, but he asserts that we also need housing for the middle class in every city neighborhood. His plan is to be creative in how to leverage public and private dollars. He’ll reach out to foundations and the private sector fro $20 million and focus the cent sales tax program to ensure a strong supply of capital to build homes.
Bus Directions (0 transfers): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 63 (any bus) to 5th St @ Market St. (20min) Walk block and half same direction to St. peter, turn right and go south on St peter to 4th St. and then left ¼ block to destination.
OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT- Andy Dawkins, Mayor's office
1600 White Bear Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55106
http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/depts/code_enforcement/
The Office of Neighborhood Housing and Property Improvement’s mission is to keep St. Paul clean, keep housing habitable, and make its neighborhoods the safest and most livable in Minnesota. They do interior and exterior inspections of single family and duplex housing and enforce rules (no accumulated garbage, tall grass and weeds, junk cars, broken windows, etc). They have a problem property unit, implement rental registration, and educate the public about tenants’ rights and truth in housing.
Former state legislator Andy Dawkins joined Mayor Randy Kelly’s team as the director of Neighborhood Housing and Property Improvement department last June when the department was created. Dawkins, who decided not to seek re-election to his House seat, has been a vocal advocate for St Paul neighborhoods and improving community quality of life. He was chief architect off many of St. Paul’s property and neighborhood nuisance laws, including those dealing with crack house evictions, city tenant remedies, drug free school zones, Section 8 ownership, neighborhood land trusts and others. The new department was announced in March of 2002 as a means to better address the challenges of problem properties throughout the city. The new office will take a comprehensive approach to ensuring that every resident in St. Paul lives in a safe and clean neighborhood.
Bus directions (1 transfer): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 84 South (any letter) to Snelling @ Randolph Ave (4 min). Head eastbound on Randolph (64N or H) through downtown to Eastside of St Paul, ride until White Bear Av @ Iowa Ave. (45 min)
ST PAUL PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY
480 Cedar St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
The St Paul PHA has been an independent governmental unit since 1977. Its historical roots are in the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul (HRA), a unit of the City of Saint Paul established by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1947. The HRA's initial goal was to remove slums and construct low income housing in Saint Paul.
The PHA is governed by a Board of Commissioners. The seven commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. Its mission statement is to “help families and individuals with low incomes achieve greater stability and self-reliance by providing safe, affordable, quality housing and links to community services”. Their 4,273 HUD-subsidized public housing rental units are well maintained and fully occupied (consistently over 99%), providing safe, affordable housing to about 10,000 low income residents. They also coordinate services for public housing residents, including "welfare to work" programs, homeownership programs, community policing, assisted living services for frail elderly and disabled residents, and others.
In the upcoming year, the PHA will implement new public housing ceiling rents as required by HUD, develop a new central administrative office, implement volunteer community service program for public housing residents, explore opportunities for disposing of certain scattered public housing units and replacing them at other locations through acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction and/or other housing resources. They will also designate one “elderly-only” high-rise building.
Bus directions (0 transfers): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 63S E 3rd St/Sunray to 5th St. @ Wabasha/Cedar (20 min). Walk 0.3 miles NW to destination.
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL (Metro Housing and Redevelopment Authority)
230 E. 5th St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
http://www.metrocouncil.org/index.htm
In order to coordinate the activities of the seven-county metropolitan area, the Metropolitan Council was created by the legislature in 1967. The Council's responsibilities include: conducting long-range, comprehensive planning (for airports, economic development, housing, land use, regional finance, parks, water quality and supply, and transportation); working with other local units of government to ensure that their planning is consistent with the Council's plans and the plans of their neighbors; operating the regional sewage collection and treatment system; operating the regional transit system; and administering the Metro HRA.
A main focus of the Met Council is developing a region-wide, long-term development plan, and they are currently reworking their plan for 2030. The Council espouses “smart-growth" principles and has a Livable Communities Advisory Committee, which recommends grants to projects designed to fight sprawl with high-density, mixed-use development.
With encouragement and funding from the Metropolitan Council, cities have been developing projects with main-street shopping, restaurants and offices adjacent to transit services. Met Council and state planners identified the 80-mile corridor between Minneapolis and St. Cloud as the best bet for commuter rail.
Bus directions (0 transfers): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 63 E 3rd St. /Sunray to 5th St. @ Sibley/Wacouta St. (23 min). Walk NE to the destination.
RAMSEY COUNTY PLANNING IN HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
No website
Organization profile in progress.
3. Business Oriented Organizations:
HAMLINE MIDWAY AREA REHABILITATION CORPORATION (H-MARC)
1564 LaFond Ave.
St. Paul, MN
As a nonprofit community development organization, H-MARC was founded to promote the general welfare of the Hamline-Midway community by helping to stabilize and rehabilitate housing stock. Over the past six years, H-MARC and the Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC) have worked in partnership to respond to problems and have moved toward prevention oriented strategies for community development.
Some of the organization’s objectives include purchasing, rehabilitating and building residential real estate, and encouraging people to maintain their homes by making home improvements, technical assistance, and financing resources available to area residents. They also provide rental housing resources, home improvement loans and have an annual home and garden show. H-MARC provides services in English, Hmong, and Spanish and has an on-going partnership with the Saint Paul American Indians in Unity to provide affordable housing for the American Indian community.
Bus directions (0 transfers): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 84 Snelling Av/Rosedale bus to Snelling Ave @ Thomas Av (8 min). Walk 0.1 miles N to destination.
EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
925 Payne St. Suite 201
St. Paul, MN 55101
The East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC) is a group of diverse people and businesses, committed to creating a prosperous multi-racial neighborhood on St. Paul's East Side. The East Side Neighborhood Development Company accomplishes this mission through housing development, commercial development, and community organizing. The housing program works to improve conditions for renters and homeowners. They rehab vacant homes, build new homes, organize volunteer painting and rehab projects. They also offer rental properties and have established the Eastside Family Center, connecting children, families and communities through child health, child development, school readiness, and family functioning.
Bus directions (1 transfer): From Snelling Av @ Grand Av take the 84B Snelling Av/Edgecumbe Av. Bus to Snelling Av @ Randolph Av. (3 min). Transfer to the 64N Payne Ave/Mplwd Ml/via N St. Paul bus and ride until Payne Av. @ York Av. (34 min). Walk N to destination.