Two supportive housing projects for people coming out of homelessness are getting a boost from federal pandemic-recovery money, one in St. Cloud and one in north Minneapolis.
According to Minnesota Housing's announcement, the agency is funding 72 new supportive apartments through the federal HOME American Rescue Plan program. The Minnesota Housing board approved the selections Aug. 27, and the agency's release is dated Sept. 1.
"Having a safe and stable place to call home can be life-changing, especially for someone who has experienced homelessness," said Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho. "These investments will create 72 homes where people can not only find stability but also connect with the services and community they need to thrive."
The two projects
In Minneapolis, Trellis Co. and Anishinaabe Endaad LLC will develop Biida'adoo, a $11.2 million building with 32 one-bedroom supportive apartments for households experiencing long-term homelessness, in the Harrison neighborhood. The name is an Ojibwe phrase meaning "they follow the path here." All 32 units will have Housing Support rental assistance through Red Lake Nation.
The project goes beyond apartments. Plans include culturally designed spaces, a cultural building, a sweat lodge and a community garden, along with onsite Medicaid services like health education, mental health care and recovery support. Anishinaabe Endaad will coordinate services, and Agate Housing and Services will be the supportive housing provider. The state describes Anishinaabe Endaad as an emerging developer focused on serving the Native American community.
"These dollars will help Anishinaabe Endaad advance our mission of empowering Native Americans by creating opportunities for healing, personal growth and connection to culture," said Adam Fairbanks, its executive director.
In St. Cloud, Center City Housing Corp. is slated to build Elm Ridge Apartments, a $17.9 million project with 40 efficiency apartments for households experiencing homelessness who have a disability or are 65 or older. All 40 units will have Housing Support rental assistance from Stearns County, and the building will have community space and a 24-hour front desk. The state lists the site in St. Cloud's West End neighborhood.
A bumpy road in St. Cloud
Elm Ridge has had a tough time finding a home. Center City Housing, which is based in Duluth, got city approval in June 2025 for a complex at 1530 Northway Drive, the former YMCA site, but scrapped that plan in January 2026 after a state grant fell through, KNSI reported. Its second try, a three-story building on 25th Avenue North behind a Walgreens, was turned down by the St. Cloud City Council 4-3 on June 1, even though the planning commission had recommended approval 6-0. KNSI reported that plan called for 40 studio apartments with full kitchens and bathrooms and round-the-clock staffing. Findings the council took up later in June cited public safety concerns and police calls at another Center City Housing property, which the organization said were largely tied to one resident who has since been evicted.
The state's release, which came out after that vote, doesn't say whether Center City Housing has another site lined up, and we couldn't find public word on one. Contractors watching this project should keep in mind that it doesn't have a confirmed, approved site yet.
HOME-ARP came out of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to address homelessness and housing instability. Minnesota Housing said its own research found people experiencing homelessness had the greatest unmet need for rental housing, so it put those projects first. Four applications asked for nearly $42 million in this round.
The two projects will get 15-year deferred loans and must follow federal HOME-ARP rules for the whole term, with state monitoring.
Neither project has a general contractor named publicly.
Why it matters for Contractors
Supportive housing is a specialty, and the state spells out why: these buildings need more than apartments. They require space for on-site services and case management, community rooms, extra accessibility features, staff and security areas, and rooms designed around residents' needs. Biida'adoo adds a cultural building and a sweat lodge, which are not typical scopes and call for careful coordination with the owners.
Federal money brings federal paperwork, so contractors bidding these jobs should expect HOME-ARP compliance requirements. The Minneapolis project looks like the clearer near-term opportunity. In St. Cloud, watch for news on where Elm Ridge will land before you put pencil to paper.