Why are we surveying residents?

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We are surveying residents to help the City of Blaine determine how to best assist owners of older manufactured homes in making their homes safer, healthy, and energy-efficient. This information will help determine if there is a need to  expand existing home repair programs or create other programs to assist owners in replacing their homes There is no guarantee that these programs will be expanded or that new ones will be introduced, and if they are, their structure and details remain uncertain.

 

What will happen during in person interviews/assessments?

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Households that agree to an interview and assessment will schedule a time to meet with an interviewer and contractor at their home. The interviewer will ask questions about your finances, how you feel about your home, and what programs you might be interested in. The contractor will inspect various aspects of your home and ask you questions about issues you may have. If you agree, we may also schedule a fire fighter from SBM fire to complete a home safety survey and install new smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

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Residents will be notified of suspected code violations, but no information on code violations of specific homes will be provided to the city. The city will not be provided a list of participating addresses.

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How will this information be shared with the City?

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All information collected will be shared with the city in summary form. No list of participants will be shared with the city. Mario – please expand on this

 

How can I get help now with repairs to my home?

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The City has a variety of programs to help you with repairs to your home including multiple options at no cost to homeowners, depending on income and the necessary improvements. Call Elizabeth Showalter at 763-717-2751 to discuss what options are best for you.

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The city received a grant from the Metropolitan Council to determine the need for and feasibility of a manufactured home replacement program. Existing home improvement programs are funded by restricted funds that are only allowed to be used on affordable housing and home improvement or by grant funds received from the state, county, or federal government. No tax levy dollars are currently used for these programs. The city expects to continue using restricted funds and grants for future programs.

 

When can I get help from new programs?

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The city plans to apply for grants to support new programs, so it may take some time before these become available. In the meantime, you’re always welcome to contact the city to explore the options currently offered.