What is Section 3? - is part of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 with the purpose of ensuring employment, training, contracting and other economic development opportunities for low income persons when federal dollars are expended. Federal law requires that “to the greatest extent feasible” at least 30% of all new hires should be Section 3 Residents.

The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), in addition to those businesses who enter into contracts with the MPHA is required to adhere to the HUD Section 3 employment requirements. This means that 30% of all new hires to the MPHA should be certified Section 3 residents. This also means that all contractors awarded a contract (construction or professional service) or receives a purchase order (no threshold on dollar amount) and (excluding supplies/materials) is required to adhere to the Section 3 employment requirement as well.

The MPHA certifies all Section 3 Resident applications, including those who are seeking employment with contractors.

What is a Section 3 Resident? - A Section 3 Resident can be one of three criteria in priority order:
1. A Current MPHA resident or Section 8 Participant;
2. Participants in a HUD Youth Build Program;
3. Other low income persons who live in the City of Minneapolis (whose family income does not exceed 80% of the median income)

Median Income Guidelines

Section 3 Resident Certification – All persons applying for employment with the MPHA should complete a job application and resident certification form. All persons claiming Section 3 Resident status must provide proof of income or verification living in an MPHA owned-property. All applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the vacant position and have been certified as a Section 3 Resident will automatically have an interview.

Types of Employment Opportunities with the MPHA:

Administrative/Office/Maintenance – Receptionist, Clerk Typist, Management Aide, Secretary, Accounting, Purchasing, IT (Information Technology), Eligibility Technician, Service Maintenance Specialist, Painter, Electrician, and Carpenter.

Types of Employment Opportunities with Contractors

General Contracting, Painting, Electrical, Masonry/Concrete, Roofing, Plumbing, Trucking (hauling), Excavation, landscaping, snow removal, janitorial/cleaning, operating engineering, Mechanical, etc.

For MPHA Employment – Employment Application and Section 3 Resident Certification form (pdf)
Section 3 Business Application (pdf)
Filing A Complaint (pdf)

Access Section 3 Regulations – www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html

Contact - For further information on the MPHA Section 3 Program or how to certify your business as a Section 3 business or to obtain a certified Section 3 business listing, contact Leslie Woyee, MPHA, Procurement Department, 612-342-1404 (phone), 612-335-4496 (fax) or lwoyee@mplspha.org