The Headwaters Housing Development Corporation (HHDC), incorporated on April 20, 1998, is a subsidiary corporation of Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC). The HHDC is a non – profit housing development corporation with 501(c)3 status, that was created specifically to address the inadequate supply of affordable housing throughout the Region. The HHDC is governed by a five-member board appointed from each of the five counties in the Region by the Headwaters Regional Development Commission.
The HHDC contracts with the Headwaters Regional Development Commission for staff support. Staff manages all HHDC activities including organization management, program development, implementation, and creation of new initiatives. The staff team is led by Sarah Wilcox, Development Specialist.
Affordable Housing Entry Cost Assistance Program
The Affordable Housing Entry Cost Assistance Program is designed to encourage and assist low and moderate income households in the Headwaters Region to become homeowners. The assistance for this program is up to $5,000 based on need and can be used for down payment and/or closing costs. The property should be located in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, and Lake of the Woods Counties to qualify. For more information, contact Levi Haar at (218) 333-6530.
Affordable New Construction
The HHDC has an affordable new construction program to construct modest homes available for sale to low and moderate income households in the Region. The homes are currently being constructed by a variety of sources including private contractors.
Cities can leverage building in their communities by minimizing costs as any fee that gets added to a project ends up being paid by the back end buyer. Ways to keep costs low may be to waive or reduce when possible building permit fees, hook up fees, donate land, or forgive special assessments as incentives. Currently, the HHDC is building two new homes in Park Rapids and is also working on a regional housing application to allow potential construction in several areas throughout the region.
Conifer Campus
The Headwaters Housing Development Corporation has partnered with Beltrami County HRA to complete construction on three supportive housing developments on Conifer Avenue in Bemidji. Further information can be found here.
School Built Construction Program
The HHDC operates a school built construction program. They currently build one to two homes per year with the Bemidji High School and the Northwest Technical College in the City of Bemidji.
Contractor Information
If you are a contractor interested in partnering with HHDC, please contact Rhonda Walters or Levi Haar.
Board of Directors
- John Nelson, President (Clearwater County)
- Jay Pike, Vice President (Hubbard County)
- Rick Rone, Secretary/Treasurer (LOW County)
- Larry Olson, Board Member (Mahnomen County)
- Brian Merschman, Board Member (Beltrami County)
To learn more about the services of the HHDC or to have them partner with your community, please contact:
