Missouri's Affordable Housing For Home Buyers There is an explosion of funds expanding the supply of affordable housing in under-served areas of Missouri. Housing starts are on the rise with awarded funds to proposed projects that either preserve existing low income housing, or preserve historic buildings, or provide single-family housing with a homeownership option for the purpose of creating affordable housing. Many needs exist in city, county, and state affordable housing communities throughout Missouri's beautiful heartland. Government provision of financially viable, market appropriate housing in areas of greatest housing need in the State are being funded and built. Quality housing at a reasonable cost and rent to meet a variety of needs, including family, elderly and special needs. Some studies propose a wide range of feasible and practical solutions to address the existing barriers to Missouri's low-income wage-earner. Some suggest there are not enough financial incentive programs for developers of Missouri's affordable housing. The Planning Division and Building Authorities should make every attempt to keep development fees affordable and assist projects that support other community/economic development activities within the community. Commissions should also consider rezoning select areas for affordable multifamily housing and allocate funds to those housing developments which provide the greatest overall benefits.

Missouri Housing Development Commission
The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), is an instrumentality of the state of Missouri, which constitutes a body corporate and politic. MHDC has invested almost $4 billion to construct, renovate and preserve affordable housing. MHDC functions as a bank, providing financing directly to developers of affordable rental properties. The commission also provides funding for home loans to qualified, first-time buyers through a network of certified, private mortgage lenders.

MHDC administers the federal and Missouri Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs, federal HOME funds, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Project Based Section 8 rental assistance contracts, the direct MHDC funding of several housing assistance programs and the Affordable Housing Assistance Program Tax Credit.

Affordable Housing Through Community Partnership
Quality affordable housing has been an expressed need in various communities in both rural and urban areas of Missouri. This type of housing can take place successfully through a participatory planning process in which all the community state-holders are involved. The goal of this program is to prepare extension specialists to serve as educators and facilitators in this participatory process to enable the community to successfully develop quality affordable housing in their area.

The program initiative covers issues of consensus building, trust generation, forming community coalitions, generating action plans for affordable housing development. In addition, this program will provide information about various types of affordable housing options available and funding sources for this type of development.

Missouri Manufactured Housing Association
The Missouri Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA) headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri. MMHA is a nonprofit trade association representing all segments of the manufactured housing industry; including manufactured home builders; suppliers; installers; retailers; community developers, owners, and managers; insurers and financial service providers.

MMHA works to promote fair laws and regulations, increase and improve financing options, provide legal research, promote industry professionalism, remove zoning barriers and educate external audiences about the benefits of manufactured housing. Through various programs and activities, MMHA seeks to promote the use of manufactured housing to consumers, developers, lenders, community operators, insurers, the media and public officials.

National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is a professional membership organization comprised of 21,227 housing and community development agencies and officials throughout the United States who administer a variety of affordable housing and community development programs at the local level.

MoNAHRO is the Missouri chapter of professionals coming together with a collective interest. It consists of the Corporate Board and five Standing Committees; Housing, Community Development, Commissioners, Member Services, and Professional Development. The development of viable communities by provision of decent housing, suitable living environment and expansion of economic opportunities for persons of low and moderate income.

Missouri Department of Economic Development
Offering community resources to enhance community quality of life, the department's innovative approach helps sustain strong Missouri communities with technical and financial assistance throughout the state. The work associated with non-profit and volunteer organizations in Missouri communities add significantly to the quality of life enjoyed by everyone.

Housing and redevelopment of abandoned, blighted or under-utilized properties in Missouri is an important part of the state economy and the well being of our residents. Homeownership is the single largest asset many families will own. Stable and viable neighborhoods are the product of a good housing stock. It also plays an important role in the attraction of businesses and jobs in Missouri's local communities through the state.

Missouri Housing Industry Alliance
There are currently 18 association members in the MHIA. Industries represented by the membership include home-building, mortgage lending, real estate, appraisers, home inspection, insurance, real estate auction, property management, title insurance, pest control, crime prevention and real estate law. Often, members have collaborated on projects or utilized the expertise of other members by inviting them to serve as guest speakers.

The members of the Alliance have found that their Associations have saved time and money by working together rather than against each other on legislative issues. In making each other aware of the issues each group is facing, working together toward a common goal; streamlining all aspects of the housing industry.

Missouri USDA Rural Development
The USDA Rural Development mission goal is to provide or partner with others in providing the financial and technical resources to assist Missouri private citizens, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, communities, cities and counties in assuring that each rural community has what it takes to improve the quality of life and be successful in the 21st century.

USDA Rural Development assisted rural Missouri with $1.75 billion in financial assistance during Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The assistance was through a variety of loan and grant programs to thousands of individuals, families, businesses and communities. These funds were used to provide quality housing, good jobs, broadband service, improved health care, energy efficiency improvements, clean drinking water plus reliable modern essential community facilities and services.

Saint Louis County Housing Programs
Housing Programs designed to create solutions to abandoned, substandard and unaffordable housing by assisting in the development of housing for low and moderate income individuals and families. The St. Louis HOME Program was formed to assist in creating and maintaining affordable housing. Grants and funds for down payment assistance to first time homebuyers in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Florissant, O'Fallon and Wentzville.

Funds are provided to developers of affordable for sale and rental housing for low and moderate income residents. Low and moderate income residents often find obstacles to maintaining their residences. Community Development Block Grant funds provide annual grants on a formula basis to entitlement cities and counties to assist in developing urban communities.

Housing and Urban Development
HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination. HUD offers many government assisted programs and resources for Missouri homebuyers and renters.

HUD awards grants to Missouri organizations and groups for a variety of purposes. Working with local nonprofit organizations to invest in their communities through property rehabilitation and resell to first time home buyers and low to moderate income families. HUD programs have helped millions of people from being homeless by supporting local communities initiatives.