Streams FAQ
About Streams
1. What is Streams? Streams is a searchable database of publicly-funded (subsidized) rental housing in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.
2. What types of housing programs are covered in Streams? Rental housing with a longterm rent restriction (or direct rent subsidy) that makes it affordable for those earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI). This includes public housing, ProjectBased Section 8, LIHTC (tax credit) properties, and many other programs funded locally. Streams does not include emergency shelter, transitional, or supportive housing.
3. How comprehensive is Streams? Our goal is to have 100% coverage of the metro area, but our data is only as complete as the input we get from local communities. We get data directly from MN Housing (MHFA), HUD, and a couple of other large agencies (and put in a fair amount of elbow grease in reconciling them!), then circle back with individual counties, communities, and non-profit funders to see if we missed anything or got anything wrong. If you see something wrong or missing in Streams, please let us know
1. What is Streams? Streams is a searchable database of publicly-funded (subsidized) rental housing in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.
2. What types of housing programs are covered in Streams? Rental housing with a longterm rent restriction (or direct rent subsidy) that makes it affordable for those earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI). This includes public housing, ProjectBased Section 8, LIHTC (tax credit) properties, and many other programs funded locally. Streams does not include emergency shelter, transitional, or supportive housing.
3. How comprehensive is Streams? Our goal is to have 100% coverage of the metro area, but our data is only as complete as the input we get from local communities. We get data directly from MN Housing (MHFA), HUD, and a couple of other large agencies (and put in a fair amount of elbow grease in reconciling them!), then circle back with individual counties, communities, and non-profit funders to see if we missed anything or got anything wrong. If you see something wrong or missing in Streams, please let us know
How to use Streams
1. You can retrieve publicly-funded housing data sets by applying a number of filters, and the geographic area (using the visible Google map, or by city or county using the “City Search” tab at the top of the map).
2. On using filters: You will see as you first pull up the screen that the map indicates “too many addresses to display: zoom in to see properties.” That is because an absence of any filters says to the application “Show me everything.” At this point, you could select “Show Results” and see a summary of all properties at the bottom of the screen. However, properties will not begin to appear on the map until you select one or more filters and/or zoom in on the map.
3. Upon applying the filter(s) and geographic area, click “Show Results.” You will see a summary of properties and units by affordability level, as well as a table of properties (sortable by three variables), at the bottom of the screen.
4. Click on any individual row in the search results table to see a screen with additional detail for the property on which you clicked. You may also choose to have the results of your search exported to a .csv file (note the “Click here” hyperlink right above the
1. You can retrieve publicly-funded housing data sets by applying a number of filters, and the geographic area (using the visible Google map, or by city or county using the “City Search” tab at the top of the map).
2. On using filters: You will see as you first pull up the screen that the map indicates “too many addresses to display: zoom in to see properties.” That is because an absence of any filters says to the application “Show me everything.” At this point, you could select “Show Results” and see a summary of all properties at the bottom of the screen. However, properties will not begin to appear on the map until you select one or more filters and/or zoom in on the map.
3. Upon applying the filter(s) and geographic area, click “Show Results.” You will see a summary of properties and units by affordability level, as well as a table of properties (sortable by three variables), at the bottom of the screen.
4. Click on any individual row in the search results table to see a screen with additional detail for the property on which you clicked. You may also choose to have the results of your search exported to a .csv file (note the “Click here” hyperlink right above the