Nonprofits convert former Havenbrook rentals to single-family homes
Nonprofits have acquired and are renovating hundreds of former Havenbrook rental properties in north Minneapolis after an Attorney General investigation and settlement over poor conditions. About 345 homes went to local nonprofits, roughly 110 have been renovated and sold to single-family buyers, and the AG secured roughly $2 million in payments plus about $2 million in rent forgiveness for affected tenants.
Housing
Legal
🔍 Key Facts
- Havenbrook once owned more than 600 homes in the Twin Cities; roughly 345 of those properties transferred to local nonprofits.
- About 110 homes have been renovated and sold to families; one nonprofit example bought a home for ~$190,000, spent ~$200,000 renovating it, and is selling it for ~$280,000 (gap covered by grants/donations).
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office sued Havenbrook after findings of dangerous living conditions and obtained about $2 million to pay renters and about $2 million in rent forgiveness.
📍 Contextual Background
- State regulatory agencies maintain inspection records for licensed child care/day care centers that document safety violations and citations.
- Regulatory inspections of day care centers can result in formal citations for safety violations.
- A federal immigration fraud special operation called "Operation Twin Shields" was conducted in the Twin Cities by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- U.S. Bank (U.S. Bancorp) is investing $200 million annually to renovate its branches.
- The branch renovation initiative is starting with five key markets.