Coalition for Rochester Area Housing

Ryan Cardarella joins the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing after more than eight years with Mayo Clinic in Public Affairs and Communications. He is passionate community advocate, having served as a volunteer and board member for several local nonprofits. His interest in affordable housing stems from nearly a decade with the Dorothy Day Hospitality House, an emergency shelter in Rochester. He is excited to support the Coalition’s mission to collaborate, invest, and lead on innovative solutions to meet Rochester’s housing needs.

He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master’s degree in communications from Drake University. Ryan moved to Rochester from the Milwaukee area in 2016. In his spare time, he enjoys running and enjoying one of Rochester’s craft breweries.

Let's clear something up. 💬

A common misconception: "If I earn less than $135,800, I must qualify for housing help."

Here's the reality: the $135,800 AMI is set for a household of four — not one person. HUD adjusts income limits for every household size, and for a single person, the thresholds are significantly lower.

For a one-person household in Olmsted County:
🔴 Extremely Low (30% AMI) — $28,550 / less than $13.73/hr full-time
🔵 Very Low (50% AMI) — $47,550 / less than $22.86/hr full-time
🟢 Low Income (80% AMI) — $74,800 / less than $35.96/hr full-time

A single person qualifies for help at 50% AMI — that's $47,550. That's still considered Very Low Income.

Understanding these numbers is how we make the case for more housing investment in our community.

Do you know your AMI tier? 📊

HUD uses the Area Median Income to set income limits that determine who qualify for housing assistance. For Olmsted County in 2026, here's what that looks like for a family of four:

🔴 Extremely Low Income (30% AMI) — up to $40,750
🔵 Very Low Income (50% AMI) — up to $67,900
🟢 Low Income (80% AMI) — up to $106,800

These thresholds shape access to rental assistance, housing vouchers, tax credit apartments, and more. Knowing where you fall is the first step.

🏡 Did you know Olmsted County has a program to support housing developers to build more affordable homes right here in our community?
The Growing Affordable Inclusive Neighborhoods (GAIN) program creates incentives for builders to develop smaller, lower-priced owner-occupied homes — think starter homes for first-time buyers or downsizing options for seniors — all priced under $350,000.
Check out the Post Bulletin to learn more! 🔗

Olmsted County announces funding support for construction of affordable, for-sale homes HRA program has supported two developments with loans to support construction of single-family housing with prices less than $350,000.