CityLiving Housing Loans
The City of Minneapolis offers mortgage loans and two types of home improvement loans through its CityLiving Program, a joint effort between the City of Minneapolis and the City of Saint Paul. CityLiving loans offer homebuyers an opportunity to purchase Minneapolis homes at an interest rate that historically has ranked well below market rates. The CityLiving program also offers Homebuyer Education Workshops at a low cost through the Home Ownership Center. The workshops provide first-time homebuyers comprehensive information to prepare them for home ownership. The workshops are offered in English, Spanish, Hmong and Cambodian. Bilingual counselors or interpreters are also available for other languages. For more information visit http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/ city_living.asp. The City of Minneapolis offers interest-free loans for code abatements for households that are within 50 percent of the median income for this metropolitan area. The maximum loan amount is $20,000. The loan is repaid at the time the house is sold. The City also offers amortizing loans at 1 percent interest for home repairs. The Maximum term is 20 years. The maximum loan is $25,000. The maximum income to qualify for this loan is 80 percent of the median income for the metropolitan area. This loan can only be used to complete code repairs. To access these loans, contact Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation at 612-378-7985.
Camden Bridge
According to the Camden Bridge Project Manager, Lunda Construction indicated they will likely not close the Camden Bridge until early to mid April to allow time for specialty steel fabrication to occur. At this time, the bridge reopening date remains late summer. The closure will last approximately six months, and when the bridge reopens, drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians will see major improvements. The bridge work is made possible because the City of Minneapolis applied for and received $10 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for the project. For more info about the project visit http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ cip/camden/. For a map of vehicle and bicycle detours visit http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cip/camden/Detour%20Routes.pdf.
Free Legal Clinic
Catalyst Community Partners and the law firm of Gray, Plant, Mooty have started a legal clinic in their 1200 West Broadway building. Initially, the clinic will be open the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. These legal services are intended for low income north Minneapolis residents and will give them the opportunity to meet face-to-face with an attorney for a free 15-20 minute consultation. At the clinic the attorneys will answer questions and/or refer clients to other places for help. The options presented to those who attend will be determined by the specifics of their legal issues. Clients will be screened for financial eligibility and, if eligible, the consultation will be provided without charge. Some of the types of cases which clinic attorneys may assist with include: debt/bankruptcy law, civil law, consumer law, and housing law. Clients will be seen on a first-come-first-serve basis. For more information call 612-877-4000.
4th Ward E-Newsletter
Sign up for the 4th Ward E-mail newsletter at: http://www.ci. minneapolis.mn.us/contact/email-form-johnson.asp. In "questions/ comments" type "newsletter" and you will be added to the list.