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the City has not met that number; it goes to the attempt to try to balance the City's housing <br />supply. <br />Commissioner Look stated one thing that impressed him about the Habitat for Humanity project <br />is the 11 required classes that deal with finance and economic responsibilities. Habitat for <br />Humanity probably finds these classes successful in finding applicants that will create a long <br />term solution, and not just run a building down. He agrees with Commissioner Elvig that the <br />$6,000 is a small amount of money that the HRA can help contribute to a worthwhile project, <br />and he would be in favor of that. However, he does not know that the need is widely represented <br />in the City of Ramsey. He thinks it comes from the Metropolitan Council saying the metro area <br />has a need and each area will take their portion of the need and deal with it. The conflict he has <br />with that portion of it is that it does not represent constituents in their area. The Council is <br />responsible for the needs of the people in this community and this community alone; not the <br />people coming, but the people who are currently here. He would support this project and does <br />not think it is a concern with this $6,000, but if there were to be a $400,000 project he would <br />want that concern nailed down hard. <br />Chairperson Olson noted this could also be looked at from the standpoint of meeting the needs of <br />corporate citizens in providing housing for their workforce that might not otherwise be able to <br />live here. Also for the residents here to have people who work those service jobs that might not <br />be able to do it otherwise because it would not be cost effective to work here if they did not have <br />that housing available. <br />Commissioner Dehen stated he likes the aspect of the community orientation, but is not <br />convinced that he likes the fact that they are trying to draw people from somewhere else. He <br />feels his obligation is to forward Ramsey and not to build something that may get some people <br />in. He would rather give money to educate people who want to be educated and are trying to <br />climb out. He is not for handing people stuff; he wants them to work for it, they appreciate it <br />more. If the HRA will be putting money in specific places he would like to see education <br />programs pushed forward. $6,000 is not a lot of money, otherwise he would have a problem <br />with this. <br />Commissioner Strommen stated Habitat for Humanity is a great program. To Commissioner <br />Dehen's point, the education is part of Habitat for Humanity's program, and they also have the <br />requirement that people put the sweat equity into their home. Part of the problem now is with <br />the mortgage lending practices that gave people mortgages they could not afford to make <br />payments on. Habitat for Humanity is providing the education on being a responsible <br />homeowner. Sometimes it is having that place to live in that you can be proud of, and that helps <br />you get other things in line and have stability for your family. This is a small amount of money <br />and she would support the application. <br />Commissioner Dehen questioned if the goal is to give tax monies to various organizations to <br />bring people from outside into the community for housing. <br />Commissioner Strommen stated she does not look at it that way. They are trying to create a well <br />rounded community. That person that comes to the community may need to be near family that <br />Housing and Redevelopment Authority / September 4, 2007 <br />Page 4 of 6 <br />