The Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is seeking Letters of Interest (LOIs) from qualified nonprofit organizations interested in administering Emergency Rental Assistance using Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) funds from the State of Minnesota.

Purpose

The purpose of this funding is to provide short-term emergency rental assistance to income-eligible households experiencing housing instability.

Eligible Applicants

• Nonprofit organizations in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State that have managed emergency rental assistance funding in the last 3 years.
• Must have the capacity to manage public funds, comply with State requirements, and report on program outcomes.
• Priority will go to organizations that have been awarded previous Federal, State, or Local funding, and/or that are able to deploy funds quickly into the community.

Guidelines

State funds are restricted to households making 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) with a priority for households at or below 50% AMI. Households must be located within Bloomington.

2025 income limits by household size

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Funds for up to 3 months of late rent can be distributed per family, and up to 6 in certain extenuating circumstances. Up to 15% of awarded funds can be used for navigation and service delivery. Administrative costs are not eligible.

Final program design and funding amounts will be determined in coordination with the selected organization(s). Payments will be issued on a reimbursement basis. All backup documentation must be submitted with each payment request. Funding will be subject to oversight and monitoring.

Letter of Interest Requirements

Letters should be no more than 2 pages and include:

• Primary contact information.
• A brief description of the organization’s experience administering emergency rental assistance in the past 3 years.
• A bulleted list of Federal, State, Local, or other public funds awarded to the organization in the last 3 years and their use.
• Approximate timeline from contract execution to being able to distribute funds.
• An estimated number of households the organization would be able to serve in a 30-day period if funds were available.

Program guidelines should be attached to the Letter of Interest (e.g. required documentation, screening process, etc.).

Timeline

• LOIs Due: Sunday, February 8, 2026
• Anticipated Selection Notification: February 11, 2026
• Program Start: Upon contracting

Submission Instructions

Letters should be emailed to Sarah Abe, HRA Administrator, at seabe@bloomingtonmn.gov with the subject line: LOI – Emergency Rental Assistance ORGANIZATION NAME.

Questions

Questions regarding this call may be directed to: Sarah Abe, HRA Administrator seabe@bloomingtonmn.gov; 612-523-5662

The HRA reserves the right to request additional information, negotiate program details, and select one or more organizations based on community need and organizational capacity. Submission of a Letter of Interest does not guarantee funding.

We appreciate your interest in supporting housing stability for residents in our community.

A coalition of mayors announces the formation of Cities for Safe and Stable Communities (MN). We are a grassroots, local government-led coalition dedicated to restoring stability and trust in government. While our cities have faced challenges for some time, Operation Metro Surge has created an urgent need for a unified local voice.

As mayors, we know the names and faces in our cities. We are held accountable for the wellbeing of our schools, hospitals, and local businesses, and for upholding the rule of law for our residents. Current enforcement tactics are violating constitutional protections and actively harming the families we swore to serve.

This surge is not just a "Minneapolis issue;" the fallout is felt across the state. This operation strains city resources, disrupts local economies, and tears at community cohesion. This is unsustainable, especially in light of the economic uncertainty of the past year. From small business closures and workforce instability to housing insecurity, the damage weakens Minnesota’s entire economic engine.

The toll on our families and children has been heavy. Students as young as five years old have been detained, leaving their friends and teachers to cope and advocate for their return.

This approach undermines true public safety. The surge forces cities to absorb unsustainable costs. The costs are not just financial; we are seeing a dangerous erosion of trust between residents and local law enforcement that could take years to earn back. When residents are too afraid to call 911 or access city services, everyone is less safe. Residents should be able to interact with our cities without fear. We need a return to order that stops pulling officers away from essential needs, to focus on their true mission: protecting our neighborhoods.

Our coalition is asking federal and state elected officials for immediate de-escalation and acknowledgement of economic harms, including potential 2026 relief funds to cities. As more communities join, we will assess the damages done and determine how we restore Minnesota institutions in the wake of these unprecedented setbacks.

We believe in Minnesota’s resilience. While federal agencies must answer for this damage, we know Minnesotans are the ones who will build back. We invite leaders – from the suburbs to Greater Minnesota – to join us. Together, we can chart a path that values safety, honors constitutional rights, and restores the peace our communities deserve. A future where cities can do their jobs and Minnesotans can feel secure in their communities.

Undersigned Cities:

• Bloomington
• Brooklyn Center
• Brooklyn Park
• Columbia Heights
• Eden Prairie
• Edina
• Golden Valley
• Hopkins
• Maplewood
• Minnetonka
• Richfield
• St. Louis Park

Learn more about how the City of Bloomington is responding to the impact of current federal actions.

The City of Bloomington is taking action to address an increased demand for rental assistance services. On Monday, January 26, the Bloomington City Council unanimously approved an allocation of up to $350,000 to support emergency rental assistance for Bloomington residents.

The funding comes from the City’s 2025 Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA), which are state-issued funds designated to support affordable housing projects. The funding is managed by the Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and is mostly used for homeownership programs and multifamily development and redevelopment projects.

“State statute allows LAHA funds to be used for emergency rental assistance when there is a demonstrated community need,” said HRA Administrator Sarah Abe. “This allocation gives us the ability to respond quickly and help residents remain housed during a time of increased uncertainty.”

As an initial step, $50,000 has been allocated to Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), a nonprofit organization that provides rental assistance, a food shelf and other basic needs services to residents. In the first two weeks of January alone, VEAP reported receiving 243 calls for financial assistance, 66 of which came from Bloomington residents.

The HRA will continue to assess community need and determine how additional funds should be allocated to other organizations serving Bloomington in the coming months.  

Residents in need of emergency housing resources can visit blm.mn/hraresources.  

For emergency rental assistance, contact VEAP directly at 952-888-9616

Today, our state - and indeed our entire nation - was shaken by another fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving federal law enforcement. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who according to friends and family cared deeply for his patients and his community, was shot and killed by federal agents during an immigration enforcement action in the Whittier neighborhood.

This tragedy comes less than three weeks after the killing of Renee Good in a separate incident involving federal immigration officers – and it follows tens of thousands of Minnesotans taking to the streets in peaceful, powerful protest just hours earlier on Friday.  

My heart goes out to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Pretti, and to everyone grieving. I know many residents of Bloomington and across Minnesota are feeling deep pain, frustration, and anger about yet another life lost in circumstances that raise urgent questions about federal law enforcement practices and community safety.

The Bloomington City Council and many of our elected representatives have called on federal leaders to stop using harmful enforcement tactics and respect constitutional rights that protect both human dignity and public safety. Public safety is not built through fear or force, it is built through trust, fairness, accountability, and humane policy.  

It is imperative that local, state and federal leaders work together to de-escalate the current environment. No one is being made safer in this dynamic, nor is it sustainable. As voices across the community and national leadership have emphasized in recent days, now is the moment to reduce the temperature of rhetoric and tactics and pursue a constructive, coordinated approach that prioritizes safety, transparency, and trust.

At the same time, we must be clear: violence and destruction have no place in our community. Bloomington will not tolerate actions that endanger people or property. I have directed Chief Hodges and our outstanding officers of the Bloomington Police Department to remain vigilant and to work collaboratively with regional partners so that Bloomington remains safe, resilient, and welcoming in the days ahead.

Bloomington will continue to support efforts toward transparency, accountability, and justice, including independent investigations into these incidents, while ensuring our community remains secure and inclusive for everyone. In times like these, we need to come together with compassion, respect, and resolve. Those are the values that define our city.  

Thank you to the residents, community leaders, business owners and public safety personnel who work every day to make Bloomington a place where all people can live safely and with dignity. 

Tim Busse
Mayor, City of Bloomington