The Beltrami County Housing and Redevelopment Authority is a municipal corporation created by the Beltrami County Board more than 30 years ago under the authority granted in Minnesota Statutes.  The HRA is governed by a five member Board of Directors appointed by the Beltrami County Board.  The current Board of Directors is:

• Richard Jaranson, Chairman
• Lois Anderson, Vice Chair
• Bruce Meade, Secretary
• Lee Coe, Treasurer
• Steve Young, Board Member

In its initial years of operation the HRA focused its attention on the rehabilitation of substandard housing units throughout the County, accessing a number of state and federal grants to support that work.

Starting in 1994 the HRA developed affordable single family houses for sale to moderate income home buyers.  The first housing development took place in partnership with the Northwest Technical College Carpentry program and the Bemidji High School Industrial Education program.  The partnership produced at least four houses each year until it was taken over by the Headwaters Housing Development Corporation in 1999.  While the Technical College no longer works with the HHDC, the partnership is still actively building single family homes with the Bemidji High School.

In 2005 the HRA began an effort to build affordable housing using labor provided by non-violent state inmates through the Institution Community Work Crew Program.  The HRA contracted with the Minnesota Department of Corrections for a crew and paid for all of the materials and subcontracted labor.  The HRA built twelve houses in the first two years of operation. The HRA spun this program off to the HRDC after the initial two-year period. Beltrami County has provided substantial support for this effort.

The HRA also administers down payment assistance programs.  Thirty-seven households were provided down payment assistance through an employer-based program and several additional households in Northwest Beltrami County were assisted with funds provided by Beltrami County.  The HRA Board is interested in housing rehabilitation as its next new initiative.

The HRA contracts with the Headwaters Regional Development Commission for staff support.

Homes for Sale