MHP seeks someone interested in and committed to affordable housing that wants to start at the ground level assisting our Community Development department.
You’ll provide support for our team’s work of planning, coordinating, delivering and reporting on Community Development projects across the country.
This is a very interesting and busy position! No need to live in Minnesota either—we are 100% remote.
Minnesota is so close to legislative deal – let’s get all sides together to get the job done! As time (and the legislative session) passes, the needs for housing have only grown. Minnesota families need safe, stable housing to thrive
Star Tribune on the possibility of a special session.
Join us in urging lawmakers to pass a bonding bill that includes significant housing investments. Bonds are essential resources that help create deeply affordable rental housing and single-family homes and preserve existing subsidized homes and manufactured home parks. Here is a one-pager on Bonds for Housing
As the end of the legislative session fast approaches, we have an opportunity to ensure lawmakers prioritize housing as they head into their final weeks. Let’s make sure legislative leaders know that housing is essential for Minnesotans!
If you just have time for one call:
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller
Phone: 651-296-5649
E-mail: [email protected]
If you can make a second critical call:
Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman
Phone: 651-296-4280
E-mail: [email protected]
And, if you can, call:
If you have time for additional calls:
Sen. Tom Bakk
Senate Capital Investment Chair
Phone: 651-296-8881
E-mail: Use Mail Form
Rep. Fue Lee
House Capital Investment Chair
Phone: 651-296-4262
Email: [email protected]
Your lawmaker: Find your lawmakers here
Suggested message for calls and emails:
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My name is __ and I live in __________ (say address) / I work in ______ (say address).
Please support a bonding bill that includes $500 million in bonds for homes. Bonding is a vital, commonsense tool that supports housing of all types and supports thousands of jobs.
[YOUR MESSAGE: Why is housing important?]
With stable housing that is affordable, Minnesota families can thrive, businesses can hire, and communities can prosper. Shovel-ready housing projects are ready to be built; please support Housing Infrastructure Bonds.
Thank you!
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Source of Income Protections have been included in the House omnibus bill (HF4376) but not in the Senate omnibus. Action is needed to ensure SOI protections becomes law. We are asking folks to call their MN Senator, MN Representative, and if they have extra time Sen. Draheim.
Find your legislators contact information:
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Scripts:
Your Rep and Senator Pick up:
Community Member: Hello, I am a constituent of Representative __________________and would like to make a comment about: HF4376 which includes Source of Income Protections for Housing.
Legislative Secretary: Certainly. I can transfer you. (Or they may be able to help you.)
Community Member: Thank you. My name is __________________, and I live at ________________. I’m calling to urge Representative _______________________ to support the Source of Income Protections for Housing included in HF4376. [INSERT INFO ABOUT YOUR WORK OR COMMUNITY]
Legislative Secretary: I will give your message to Representative
_________, would you like for him/her/they to send a response to you?
Your Rep and Senator Voicemail:
Dear _______:
My name is __ and I live at [___address & city___].
I’m calling as part of the campaign to implement Source of Income Protections for Housing. This is an important protection that can help to expand the housing choices available to voucher holders, including in resource-rich neighborhoods where affordable housing options might otherwise be unavailable. In Minnesota landlords can legally discriminate against prospective tenants with any form of public assistance. As a result, some landlords refuse to rent to tenants with housing vouchers. The promise of finding a quality, healthy home in a neighborhood of your choice is denied. SOI Protections is currently included in HF4376, the House Housing Omnibus Bill. Please urge Chair Hausman to fight for SOI Protections in conference committee.
If implemented Source of Income protections would [INSERT INFO ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY]
Thank you!
Senator Draheim Voicemail and/or email:
Dear _______:
My name is __ and I live at [___address & city___].
I’m calling as part of the campaign to implement Source of Income Protections for Housing. This is an important protection that can help to expand the housing choices available to voucher holders, including in resource-rich neighborhoods where affordable housing options might otherwise be unavailable. Minnesota’s SOI statute needs amending to ensure it covers all forms of public assistance so households can actually use the resources intended to help address our affordable housing challenges. Chair Draheim please support SOI Protections in conference committee.
If implemented Source of Income protections would [INSERT INFO ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY]
Thank you!
***
Minnesota Management and Budget has recently announced a revised projected state surplus of over $9 billion for fiscal year 2022-23. We have the means and now is the time for lawmakers to prioritize desperately needed investments. $2 billion budget targets for housing are needed to ensure that people have access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing.
Contact legislative leaders today to ensure housing is a priority as targets are set for committees.
Please call and email Legislative Leaders TODAY:
Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman
Phone: 651-296-4280
E-mail: [email protected]
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller
Phone: 651-296-5649
E-mail: [email protected]
Suggested message:
Dear _______:
My name is __ and I live at [___address & city___].
With the release of the updated February forecast and a historic state surplus, I urge you to support $2 billion budget targets for housing.
With our budget surplus, we can make a substantial impact on mitigating our housing crisis and creating a more just, equitable housing system. Please prioritize housing this legislative session!
Thank you!
The Governor’s supplemental budget, released in January, provided strong investments for housing across the continuum. Shortly following the budget release, Minnesota Housing provided a three-day notice of the closure of the RentHelpMN program on January 28, a program that stabilized thousands of Minnesotans during the worst of the pandemic. RentHelpMN’s closure created a need for additional emergency rental assistance not addressed in the Governor’s Supplemental Budget.
We are disappointed that the Governor’s revised supplemental budget does not include emergency rental assistance, which has proven to keep families stably housed and rent paid during the ongoing pandemic. The MN ERASE Campaign has urged the Governor and legislature to appropriate funds for emergency housing assistance since RentHelpMN’s closure, as thousands have been left without the emergency help needed for housing payments. HOME Line, a statewide tenant advocacy organization, has seen a 20% increase in calls regarding evictions, displacement, notices to vacate and financial aid since RentHelpMN’s closure, and a 34% increase in eviction filings just in the past two weeks. Emergency housing assistance remains a critical means to support households that continue to be affected by pandemic-related health and economic conditions, particularly Black, Indigenous and people of color and low-income households.
Housing has been an issue of bipartisan agreement for many years in Minnesota. We urge the Governor and legislature to prioritize emergency rental assistance with other housing investments this session, an investment that will benefit Minnesota families across the state. The Minnesota ERASE Campaign (End Rental Arrears and Stop Evictions) is an effort to ensure that the historic aid enacted by Congress reaches the lowest-income and most marginalized renters it is intended to help. Co-conveners of the campaign include ACER (African Career Education Resource); Housing Justice Center, and MHP (Minnesota Housing Partnership).
African Career Education & Resources, Inc (ACER) is an issue-based African organization working to end disparities within the African immigrant and African heritage community in Minnesota. For over 13 years, ACER has led in advancing equity in our community through organizing, education and advocating for policies that will result in equitable outcomes in our communities. ACER serves as a Field Partner of the RENTHelpMN program to expand access through outreach and navigation support to the most impacted community members in need of rental assistance.
Housing Justice Center (HJC) is a nonprofit public interest advocacy and legal organization, founded in 1999 as the Housing Preservation Project, whose primary mission is to preserve and expand affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. HJC attorneys work with tenant and advocacy organizations, public and private housing funders, owners, developers, and policy makers in their efforts to protect and expand affordable housing. Based in Minnesota, HJC works nationwide.
Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) expands housing and community development opportunity for those most impacted by economic and racial disparities by leading collaborative work to promote systems change and grow equitable development capacity. For more than 30 years, MHP has accomplished this mission by producing data-informed research, advocating for equitable housing policy, and providing community development services across the US.
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Today the MMB announced a forecast improvement of $1.507 billion for the current biennium, leading to a revised projected general fund surplus of $9.253 billion for FY 2022-23. Anne Mavity, Executive Director of Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) responds:
“This State budget forecast that projects an increase in the already historic state surplus is an opportunity to invest in Minnesota. The Governor, House Democrats, and Senate Republicans have all expressed the desire to support Minnesota families. Housing costs are typically the biggest expense Minnesota families have, comprising 30-50% of a family’s household budget. The best way to invest in Minnesota families is by investing in housing.
Housing costs are increasing across the board, and hard-working Minnesota families need investments in housing that respond to the strain on their household budgets. It’s time to acknowledge that past incremental increases for housing have not been sufficient to support families and workers, schools and businesses, senior citizens, and health. Now, more than ever, we need to scale our investments to the actual need and demand to provide long-term positive impacts for Minnesota.”
MHP with other housing champions have announced the necessity for transformative investments in housing in the 2022 legislative session. This is especially needed for the lowest income and Black, Indigenous, and people of color households who are disproportionately experiencing housing stability, cost burden, and exclusion from owning their own homes. $2 billion in 2022 for housing would be an investment in healthy families, children thriving in school, diverse and inclusive communities, and jobs and economic competitiveness.
Invest in Minnesota. Invest in families. Invest in housing.
Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP), along with other housing champions, announces the necessity for transformative investments in housing in the 2023 legislative session. $2 billion in 2023 for housing would be an investment in healthy families, children thriving in school, diverse and inclusive communities, jobs and economic competitiveness. Housing is an essential need, and fundamental to a prosperous community.
With a $17 billion surplus lawmakers have the opportunity to make real progress and reduce housing cost burden, improve the condition of homes, reduce home ownership disparity, and increase stability. In doing so, lawmakers will ensure children and families thrive, workers perform, businesses succeed.
Housing champions are asking for $2 billion in 2023. That includes: $1 billion to create and save homes, which would build new rental and ownership homes for 8,000 families and ensure 10,000 families can remain in their homes. $1 billion to create access and opportunity to housing would ensure over 137,000 families have the rental assistance to afford safe, quality homes and expand homeownership to roughly 5,000 first generation homeowners.
All Minnesota should have a safe, secure place to call home. Minnesotans of color, particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous, are disproportionately harmed by poor housing quality, inequitable policies, and one of the largest homeownership gaps in the nation. Investing in housing will provide stability, choice in rental for low-income renters, and homeownership and wealth-building opportunities for generations to come.
“MHP is excited that housing investments are being prioritized, and looks forward to working with the Governor and State legislative leaders to ensure that Minnesota invests in families by investing in housing in 2023.” —Anne Mavity, MHP
MHP is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2021 Outstanding Advocate awards! These awards recognize community members and selected organizations for demonstrated dedication to affordable housing. During 2022 session, these advocates engaged their elected officials, motivated others to advocate, and raised the public profile of affordable housing issues. They shared personal and professional experience to further MHP’s policy agenda and secure more resources for affordable housing.
MHP’s work would be impossible without the partnership of these outstanding individuals. We’re incredibly grateful for all the ways in which they used their voices, ingenuity, talent, and resources to draw attention to housing as a critical public issue. These awards are a small gesture in appreciation of big contributions!
Pam Kramer, Formerly LISC Duluth
Pam’s strong leadership over many years has advanced MHP’s policy goals and built political will for housing solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. Time and again, Pam engaged directly with lawmakers on housing priorities, building knowledge and support for the Minnesota affordable housing tax credit, local housing trust funds, and more. Pam has also been a central organizing force within her community of Northeast Minnesota and Duluth, working with elected officials, housing advocates, business and community leaders to support housing priorities. With Pam’s efforts playing a key role, the City of Duluth is launching a local housing trust fund, with funds dedicated to housing. MHP thanks Pam for her partnership and congratulates her on her legacy of housing achievements for the State of Minnesota.
Metric Giles, Community Stabilization Project
Metric championed many organizing, research, and advocacy efforts in partnership with MHP in the past year, including as a guest speaker at MHP-sponsored events. He has provided crucial expertise in developing a narrative and policy advocacy strategy that centers experiences of renters, people of color, and those marginalized by structural racism. Metric is a co-leader of the Minnesota Multifamily Affordable Housing Energy Network) (MMAHEN), of which MHP is a member, using that platform to develop a statewide network of organizations at the intersection of energy and housing. He is a core partner with MHP in federal advocacy efforts, through the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. In 2021, Metric worked with MHP to develop a report on energy efficiency impacts for multifamily buildings, a publication already of note to lawmakers, program staff, and media.
James Archer
James has contributed to MHP policy development as an engaged member of MHP’s Public Policy Advisory Group in 2020 and in 2022, influencing MHP’s policy agenda and criteria assessing race equity impact for policies. James has contributed to administrative advocacy efforts, including for the QAP, with insights on changes that better support small, emerging, and developers of color as competitive for funding applications. James also used his knowledge as a developer of affordable housing to engage with legislators through direct lobbying, working with MHP to advocate for housing infrastructure bonds and the Challenge Fund.
Chris Sherman, Sherman Associates
Chris has been critical to many MHP campaigns, influencing policy development with examples and experiences as an affordable housing developer, direct lobbying, and testifying at the legislature. As a leader in the campaign for 4d reforms, Chris compellingly testified about the importance of this finance tool to households and the ability it gives developers to prioritize affordable housing projects. Chris’ contributions have helped develop political will at the state level for housing policy and influenced administrative decisions on the QAP and more. Finally, as a developer, property owner, and manager with experience in energy efficiency programs, Chris contributed essential feedback to MHP’s 2022 report on the impact of energy efficiency requirements for multifamily buildings.
Dayna Norvold, Rice County Habitat
Dayna was critical to MHP’s success in advocating for a state match fund for local housing trust funds. For years, Dayna has been a champion of local housing trust funds, educating her local community, city elected officials and program staff, and state lawmakers on the importance of dedicated funds to housing. At MHP’s request, Dayna has engaged in direct lobbying of state lawmakers through in-person and virtual meetings, explaining the impact and benefits of local housing trust funds to achieving local housing priorities. Dayna has also helped MHP develop community connections in the Northfield area and contributed to policy development as a participant in the rural development workgroup hosted by MHP.
HOME Line
HOME Line is recognized as providing essential support to renters and advocating for prevention of evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a vital partner to MHP, HOME Line has contributed to policy development, organizing, and advocacy activities including federal advocacy with the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, providing eviction data and strategic advice as part of the ERASE campaign, and participating as a core leader in the campaign for source of income protections against housing discrimination. Throughout the pandemic and continuing today, HOME Line has provided statewide leadership with educational programs on landlord-tenant law and Governor Waltz’s housing-related peacetime emergency and negotiating the bi-partisan eviction off-ramp to protect renters from eviction.