July 2025 Roof Report
Legislative Update, CLT Milestone, Office Spruce Up, FHLB Leverage
We want to acknowledge the horrific and unimaginable loss, and the unspeakable violence that occurred on June 14th.
We mourn the murder of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark and their beloved dog, Gilbert. Our hearts go out to their loved ones.
We are also grateful that it appears Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvonne are going to make a recovery, and we wish them a full and speedy healing process.
In this time of profound grief and sorrow, let us come together. May we honor the lives lost and impacted through our continued commitment to each other, to our communities, and to the betterment of our society
It's true, every legislative session is unique, and this one was no exception! Despite many areas facing significant funding cuts this year, housing remained a strong bipartisan priority. One Roof and our partners worked tirelessly to highlight just how vital it is to invest in our housing ecosystem. Here are some of the key highlights from this session's success:
· Homes for Greater Minnesota: The Greater MN Housing Infrastructure Grant Program is getting $2 million for fiscal years 2026/2027. This money helps local governments outside the Twin Cities metro area pay for up to half the cost of public infrastructure needed for workforce housing projects—think new single-family homes, manufactured homes, or apartments.
· Helping First-Time Buyers: The Community-Based First Generation Downpayment Assistance program, which started as a pilot, now has $2 million for 2026/2027. It's designed to help first-generation homebuyers cover closing costs, down payments, and even reduce their loan principal.
· More Affordable Homes to Own: The Workforce & Affordable Homeownership Development Program (WHOM) is unique—it's the only one in Minnesota focused entirely on creating new affordable homes to own. Its funding is jumping from $500,000 to a substantial $2.5 million for 2026/2027, helping low- and moderate-income households and households of color achieve homeownership.
· Housing for Economic Growth: The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program is seeing its funding increase from $25.8 million to $27.8 million for 2026/2027. This program supports both rental and homeownership projects that contribute to economic development, create jobs, or help keep jobs in a community.
· Closing the Homeownership Gap: To address the gap in homeownership rates between white households and Indigenous American Indian and communities of color, the Homeownership Assistance Fund is increasing its support from $1.7 million to $3.7 million for 2026/2027.
· Investing in Housing Infrastructure: Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIBs), issued by Minnesota Housing, will provide $50 million for 2026/2027. These funds will be used for loans to develop and preserve various multifamily housing projects.
Join Us
Come celebrate our 375th Community Land Trust Home and in a new innovative design! One Roof is hosting an open house on July 17th starting at 12:00pm (light lunch and snacks provided). Meet us at 222-230 S 62nd Ave to take a tour!
Giving Back at Decker Dwellings
In June, One Roof staff returned to Decker Dwellings, an affordable multifamily housing development we completed in 2021, for a day of service and team building. Nearly four years after welcoming its first residents, the property remains a vital source of affordable housing in the Duluth Heights neighborhood—and we’re committed to ensuring it stays that way.
Staff members spent the day refreshing the landscaping, spreading fresh mulch throughout the grounds, pulling weeds, and tidying up the adjacent wooded areas. This work enhanced the property's appearance and gave it a newly polished look. After putting in some sweat equity, the team gathered for games and socializing; a chance to unwind and connect after a productive day working outdoors.
The service day reflects One Roof's approach to development and stewardship; our involvement doesn't end at project completion. Regular maintenance and care help ensure our properties remain assets to their communities long-term.
Office Updates: Fresh Look, Enhanced Security, and Better Visibility
The One Roof office building recently received several improvements and updates this summer that enhance both function and appearance.
The front gardens received a landscaping refresh that creates a more welcoming entrance for clients and visitors. A professional window cleaning has left all office windows spotless…for now. Security upgrades include new camera systems installed around the building perimeter, providing enhanced monitoring with better coverage and clearer image quality than the previous system. Finally, two sides of the building now feature mesh window posters that showcase One Roof's services to passersby, similar to our front door display.
These updates are part of our commitment to maintaining a welcoming and secure environment for both our team and our clients.
One Roof Receives Impact Fund Matching Grants
One Roof recently received boost in the form of matching grants from several local financial institutions, made possible through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) Member Impact Fund.
This generous support, totaling $95,000, will strengthen One Roof’s efforts to create and sustain affordable housing opportunities throughout Duluth and surrounding communities. The Member Impact Fund provided a 3 to 1 matching grant to amplify the community investment of FHLB Des Moines member institutions, and we’re grateful many local banking partners made this opportunity a reality.
Participating financial institutions included:
Affinity Plus
Bell Bank
Frandsen Bank & Trust
Members Cooperative Credit Union
MN Power Employee Credit Union
Western Bank
These institutions applied for and secured the matching funds on One Roof’s behalf, underscoring their shared commitment to safe and stable housing. One Roof extends our sincere thanks to each of the partner banks, the FHLB Des Moines, and everyone in our community who continues to champion affordable housing.
In the News
One Roof’s Niki Kolodge and Jim Philbin sat down with Northern News Now to highlight the services One Roof provides—and how we’re helping people in our community make homeownership more achievable. Click on the image below to see the segment.
Let One Roof Help Make Home a Better Place
Purchasing a home may be one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and navigating today’s housing market can seem impossible. Homeownership education is the single most effective tool for achieving successful homeownership. One Roof offers several programs to assist you in preparing for the home buying process.
One Roof’s Community Land Trust program allows lower income home buyers to purchase Land Trust homes for a significantly reduced price. In exchange for this assistance, One Roof maintains ownership of the land, which homeowners lease for a small fee. When homeowners move, they agree to pass on the benefits they received by selling their home below market price to another income-qualified buyer.
Buy a Community Land Trust Home
One Roof Community Lending offers affordable loan programs for home improvements. Our loans can assist homeowners in Duluth, Superior, and the surrounding areas at practically any income level. Multi-family rental properties are also eligible but must be owner-occupied.
One Roof is home to a community Tool Lending Library for Duluth residents. Like a traditional library, tools can be checked out at no cost. The collection supports all kinds of home improvement and repair projects, both indoors and out.
Find out what tools you can borrow from One Roof’s Free Tool Lending Library