Minnesota Housing has approved financing for over $53 million in repairs and updates to 32 public housing buildings statewide, including Crookston’s Oak Court Apartments.
The resulting work will help preserve more than 3,200 apartments across the state, including 22 projects in Greater Minnesota and 10 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The Publicly Owned Housing Program (POHP) provides loans to rehabilitate public housing serving people with low incomes. Program funding comes from a mix of state appropriations and General Obligation Bonds. More than $32 million in funding is from 2023 state appropriations; an additional $21 million is funded through 2025 General Obligation Bonds.
Selected projects are prioritized to address properties with the most immediate need for repairs. Loans will address internal and external repairs, including electric panel, plumbing, roof, and foundation updates. “Oak Court Apartments will receive $177,400 for repairs and upgrades. “We had applied earlier this spring, and we had applied to do some ADA-compliant doors, closures, cabinets, and countertops, emergency lights. and exit lighting,” said Crookston Housing Director Theresa Tahran. “We put in some soft costs too. So the total requested funding was $189,220. And they recommended that we get $177,450. They did not fund the emergency lighting and exit lighting.”
Tahran added that they are currently doing half of the cabinets and will finish the other half with the latest grant and getting a grant like this helps them. “It really helps us with our Oak Court projects. It doesn’t make us utilize our capital funds, but we use them as leverage,” said Tahran. “And we leveraged $24,850 this round, so 14% out of our capital funds.”
Sixty-five percent of households that will benefit from repairs had incomes under $20,000 per year.
“This investment is about protecting the homes of families and individuals in McGregor while preserving affordable housing in our community,” said Teresa L. Smude, executive director of the Aitkin County HRA. “Replacing aging roofs is critical to keeping these homes secure, livable and affordable well into the future.”
Minnesota Housing has awarded over $150 million in POHP funding to 163 rehabilitation projects since the program began in 2012. One-third of that funding was awarded this year due to increased investment from the legislature. Recipients applied via a competitive request for proposals process. The board of directors approved the loans at their August 28, 2025, meeting. Read more about the Public Owned Housing Program.
The following public housing buildings will be repaired and upgraded using POHP funding:
- Oak Court Apartments, Crookston
- Ravoux Hi-Rise, St. Paul
- Hamline Hi-Rise, St. Paul
- Cedar High 1611, 1627, 620, Minneapolis
- Snelling Manors, Minneapolis
- Dow Towers, Hopkins
- Hamilton House, St. Louis Park
- John Carroll, South St. Paul
- Nan McKay Hi-Rise, South St. Paul
- Empire Apartments, St. Cloud
- 411 NW 7th Street, Grand Rapids
- Aspen Arms, Cloquet
- Hilltop Homes, Eveleth
- McGregor Scattered Sites, McGregor
- North Point Apartments, Duluth
- Seventh Avenue Apartments, Hibbing
- Northland Apartments, Bemidji
- Glenhaven Manor, Glenwood
- GrandView Apartments, Morris
- Lakeland Apartments, Perham
- River View Heights, Moorhead
- Jackson Scattered Site, Jackson
- Lakeview Apartments, Willmar
- Nokomis Apartments, Pipestone
- Park Tower Apartments, Hutchinson
- Friendship Village, Fairmont
- Park Apartments, St. James
- Maple Grove Apartments – A Building, Wabasha
- Ross Park Apartments, Sleepy Eye
- Twin Towers, Austin