Itasca County HRA: Who We Are

Who are we? We are...

In 2014, ICHRA paid in excess of $1.05 million dollars in rent subsidies providing approximately 3500 families/individuals with a safe, affordable place to live.
ICHRA has worked as an administrator to State Grant funds to provide loans (forgiven after 7 yrs) to landlords and property owners in Itasca County to upgrade/improve their rental and personal properties.

ICHRA owns and manages 40 public housing units (1,2,3 bedroom units). Units are subsidized so that the family pays rent based on 30% of adjusted income.
ICHRA owns 5 transitional housing units. Two local nonprofit agencies manage these properties (AFFP and Kootasca).
ICHRA owns WilderNest Townhomes in Bigfork - 12 affordable rental units.

In collaboration with ICC, ICHRA issued bonds for the construction of Itasca Hall, providing 44 units of student housing with 75 beds for the campus.
ICHRA developed WilderNest Townhomes in 2007 for the community of Bigfork where rental housing was very scarce.
Past redevelopment projects include issuance of bonds for the Itasca Resource Center and the jail annex and provision of tax increment financing for the Sugar Lake Lodge project.
Current projects include Beacon Hill, a 48 unit supportive housing development which ICHRA will be a part owner, in conjunction with Northland Counseling Center.

Many landlords throughout Itasca County providing rental payments directly to the owner on behalf of a participating family.
Northland Counseling Center in order to provide necessary supportive services for specific populations to remain in independent living situations.
Itasca County Health & Human Services to provide some local funding to supplement state funding for rental assistance for persons diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
The Duluth and Virginia HRAs to bring state rental assistance dollars to the region.

ICHRA also partners on a regional basis through our involvement with the North East Regional Housing group composed of regional housing leaders and state funders to discuss regional housing issues.
ICHRA participated during 2008 -2010 in the regional IRRRB Range Readiness Initiative Housing Work Team.
ICHRA continues to partner on a state basis through participation in MN NAHRO (National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials).

Itasca County HRA has recently updated its Stragetic Plan. The Stragetic Plan may be viewed by clicking here: Itasca County HRA's Stragetic Plan