Celebrating 50 Years of Affordable Housing in Scott County
In the late 1970s, the Scott County HRA received its first Federal Public Housing funds to build 70 scattered-site housing units in Prior Lake, Savage, and Jordan. These homes opened in the early 1980s, offering safe, affordable housing for seniors and families in our communities.
Today, 80% of those original units still provide safe, affordable housing — including the Prior Manor Apartments. In fact, Prior Manor was the HRA’s first office location until we outgrew the space in the late 1990s.
Building a Workforce Housing Portfolio
In the 1980s, the Agency took a significant step by purchasing its first four workforce housing units in Shakopee. This created a pathway for residents to move up as their income increased and helped transition families toward long-term stability.
Since then, the CDA has expanded its workforce housing to 40 units, offering housing for those who are no longer eligible for rent assistance but still need affordable options across Scott County.
Today’s Impact
The Scott County Community Development Agency owns and manages over 200 rental units that offer rent assistance based on income. In units with rent assistance, the first step is to apply for our waiting list (Waiting Lists – Scott County CDA). Once a resident, households pay 30% of their gross household income for rent and is available as long as they live in the unit and remain eligible for the program
By the Numbers – 2024 Snapshot
Every affordable rental unit we provide is an opportunity to touch the lives of our neighbors and build stronger communities together.
Resident Demographics:
- 80% of households are elderly, disabled, or working
- 76% of households include children
- Of these, 80% are school-age children
The CDA property management and maintenance team ensures all 240 properties are well-maintained and remain assets in our community today and into the future.
Property Maintenance in 2024:
- 33 unit turns completed
- 2,500 work orders fulfilled
- 364-unit inspections conducted
- 12 rehab projects completed
Our Mission Continues
Affordable housing isn’t just a dream — it’s our mission.
For five decades, the Scott County CDA has provided homes for families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Here’s to many more years of ensuring everyone has a place to call home.
#AffordableHousing #CommunitySupport #ScottCountyCDA
