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St. Paul's Affordable Housing: Three Decades of LIHTC Development
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
St. Paul, Minnesota's capital city, has a significant Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The city's LIHTC-funded housing comprises 8,205 total units, with 6,553 designated as low-income units. This represents approximately 7.1% of St. Paul's estimated housing stock of 116,153 units.
St. Paul has received $52,325,934 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With approximately 94 projects, this averages $556,659 in federal funding per project, or $6,378 per unit. The city holds 17.94% of Minnesota's total LIHTC funding, indicating a substantial portion of the state's affordable housing efforts are concentrated in St. Paul.
Affordable housing has been a priority in St. Paul for over three decades. The first LIHTC project, Glendale Apartments, was completed in 1987. The most recent projects, including Galway Place TH + Community Plaza and Dorothy Day Residence, were completed in 2019. The 2000s saw the most affordable housing development, with multiple projects completed each year throughout the decade.
The LIHTC-funded housing inventory in St. Paul offers a diverse range of unit types. This includes 756 efficiencies, 2,889 one-bedroom units, 2,730 two-bedroom units, 735 three-bedroom units, and 70 four-bedroom units. This distribution caters to various household sizes and needs.
Several projects target specific populations. Prior Crossing focuses on youth, while Renaissance Box aims to serve households of color and single heads of households with minor children. The Crestview Community Expansion project caters to individuals with mental illness, brain injuries, drug dependencies, and developmental or physical disabilities.
St. Paul's population has grown steadily over the past decade, increasing from 285,439 in 2010 to 303,160 in 2022. The median income has also risen significantly, from $49,469 in 2013 to $67,725 in 2022. This income growth may indicate a changing economic landscape in the city.
Racial demographics have remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease in the white population from 54% in 2013 to 52% in 2022. The Asian population has seen a small increase from 17% to 19% during the same period. These demographic shifts may influence the need for culturally sensitive affordable housing options.
St. Paul's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory represents a significant portion of the city's housing stock, covering about 7.1% of estimated units. The city has consistently developed affordable housing projects over the past three decades, with a focus on diverse unit types and targeted populations. While the LIHTC program has made substantial contributions to affordable housing in St. Paul, continued efforts may be necessary to address the evolving needs of the city's growing and diverse population.
