The proposed bill, H.F. No. 1343, seeks to establish the Minnesota Nice HomeShare pilot program to assist seniors (age 55 and older) in Lake, St. Louis, and Washington counties in reducing living expenses by matching them with adults in need of affordable housing. The program will be administered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, which may collaborate with the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging and AARP Minnesota.

Program Requirements:

A grant recipient under this program must: 1. Provide assistance to hosts (senior homeowners) and renters through phone, text chat, or video. 2. Handle rental payments, distributing funds to hosts in a timely manner. 3. Maintain the privacy and data security of hosts and renters. 4. Conduct background checks on hosts and renters, including verifying at least two references for each. 5. Obtain employment verification or proof of school enrollment from renters. 6. Review and process all applications.

Funding:

• $150,000 is appropriated for fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to support the pilot program.

The bill's goal is to provide affordable housing while helping seniors utilize spare rooms in their homes to offset living costs.