• Yes to Homes! Action Alert

    Yes to Homes! Action Alert

    Take Action TODAY:

    Outreach to Legislators Leading Up to Next Committee Stop

    Yes to Homes! has been busy at the State Capitol the last few weeks. We’re a large and diverse coalition united around the common goal of creating statewide housing policy focused on meaningfully increasing the variety and supply of housing options so that all Minnesotans have a safe and stable place to call home.

    Great news – Thanks to advocacy from supporters like you, several of the Yes to Homes! bills were heard and passed out of the House & Senate Housing Committees! The next step at the legislature is a critical moment in need of your advocacy. The bills are on their way to their next committee stops, and we need to ensure that committee members hear from their constituents about the importance of abundant housing.

    Between now and Monday, March 24th, you can support Yes to Homes! by calling your members of the House Elections Finance & Government Operations Committee and the Senate State & Local Government Committee to ask for their support. It is crucial that our elected leaders hear from as many constituents as possible about the Yes to Homes! package of legislation.

    As a reminder, the coalition’s full agenda includes seven bills designed to make it easier for our state to increase the housing options we need to grow and prosper. By passing this legislation, we can make housing reform a reality and ensure that our state remains a place where every Minnesotan, from every neighborhood and every income level, has a roof over their head.

    Tell Your Legislator to Support YES TO HOMES

    Use the links below to find the full lists of committee members in both the House and the Senate. Use the Who Represents Me tool to see if you have a Representative or Senator on one of these committees. Call the phone number listed next to the member and use the phone script below as a guide to ask your lawmaker to please support our key legislation.

    1. House Elections Finance & Government Operations Committee
    2. Senate State & Local Government Committee

    Template Phone Script:

    Hello, my name is _______, I am a constituent in your district and I’m excited to share about key housing legislation that is scheduled to be heard in a committee you serve on.

    [Share why this issue is important to you – Example: Housing in Minnesota is too expensive and we continue to face a housing shortfall of over 100,000 homes as housing production struggles to keep up with demand.]

    The Yes to Homes! coalition is championing legislation that would address our growing housing shortage by increasing the variety and supply of housing options across our state.

    This year, our bi-partisan coalition is supporting seven bills. Three key bills include: The Minnesota Starter Home Act (Senate File 2229 and House File 1987), the Increased Housing Options Act (Senate File 2231 and House File 2140), and the Transforming Downtowns Act (Senate File 2286 and House File 2018).

    Together, these bills will help solve our housing shortage, and I am reaching out to ask you to please support them! I would love to discuss more and can be reached at __________. Thank you for your leadership and attention to this issue.

    Yes to Homes! legislative champions authored an op-ed earlier this month – check it out: “A Bipartisan Vision to Build More Homes in Minnesota.”

    For more on zoning and land use reform, read MHP’s Revitalizing Minnesota: A Call for Statewide Land use and Zoning Reforms

    Jenny Jones

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  • State Housing Tax Credit Contribution Fund

    Help finance homes across Minnesota while receiving a significant state tax credit!

    2026 contributions are now closed. The program filled on February 17.

    What You Can Do

    Use this page to:

    • Explore projects seeking contributions
    • Submit a project for future funding rounds
    • Learn how the program works

    FOR CONTRIBUTORS

    Contribute to a project

    For DEVELOPERS/OWNERS/ADMINISTRATORS

    Submit a new project
    Manage submitted projects

    How the SHTC Works

    1. Contribute $1,000–$2M
    2. Receive 85% state tax credit
    3. Support housing projects across Minnesota!

    The SHTC helps finance affordable housing across the state by offering Minnesota corporate and individual taxpayers a substantial tax credit in exchange for contributions. Eligible taxpayers can contribute between $1,000 and $2 million to the Contribution Fund and receive a Tax Credit Certificate (TCC) equal to 85% of their contribution. Contributions can be designated to a specific project or made to the General Contribution Pool, which is awarded to qualified projects through a competitive process.

    85% TAX CREDIT ON YOUR
    CONTRIBUTION
    MAKE A DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTION
    OR GIVE TO THE GENERAL POOL
    62% OF ELI HOUSEHOLDS IN MN USE MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING

    Impact

    Projects Seeking Contributions

    The project information below has been submitted by the developer, owner, or administrator of the project because they are seeking Designated Contributions from contributors like you. Click on the image of the project for all the project information you will need to submit your contribution application.

    [caf_filter id=’8044′]

    Applications will be reviewed and processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be accepted until the full amount of available contributions have been received.

    DISCLAIMER: MHP is providing this project listing as a public service. It is available to any developer, owner, or administrator who believes the project they are submitting is eligible to receive SHTC Designated Contributions. MHP reserves the right to reject any submitted material that appears to be incomplete, inappropriate and/or defamatory, and will make best efforts to contact the individual who submits the material to inform them of any such decision. The posted information is provided by the developer and MHP makes no representations as to the accuracy of the information.

    Additional Information

    CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM SUMMARY
    PRESENTATION:
    A PRIMER FOR DEVELOPERS (2024)
    DETAILED PROGRAM
    INFORMATION

    We are excited to report
    that as of:

    02.18.26

    Amount of tax credits requested for 2026:

    $9,900,000

    Maximum tax credits to be allocated in 2026:

    $9.9M

    Jenny Jones

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  • 2025 Legislative Preview Event

    2025 Legislative Preview Event

    Join MHP, housing colleagues, and legislators on February 4th at Carpenters Union Hall in St. Paul!

    Jenny Jones

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  • MHP Responds to Governor Walz’s Budget Announcement: Housing is the Foundation of a Strong Minnesota

    MHP Responds to Governor Walz’s Budget Announcement: Housing is the Foundation of a Strong Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) is disappointed in Governor Walz’s proposed budget for FY2025. While no cuts to housing were proposed, Minnesota needs serious and robust long-term solutions to provide the housing our state needs to thrive. Inflationary pressures and chronically underfunded resources for housing mean that existing budgets are not keeping up with the stress of the housing needs of hard working Minnesota families and businesses.

    MHP Executive Director Anne Mavity responded with a call for action:

    “Housing is central to Minnesota’s prosperity. Having no cuts to the housing budget avoids further harm, but in the face of rising housing costs, growing demand, and the urgent need for solutions, flat funding isn’t enough. We need bold, forward-thinking policies and investments to meet the scale of the challenge.”

    Mavity continued:

    “Housing is a bipartisan issue that benefits every Minnesotan. Smart investments in housing strengthen businesses, support local economies, and prevent costly interventions later. By creating homes for workers near job opportunities, we help businesses grow and communities thrive. The future of Minnesota depends on our ability to invest in the resources that allow everyone to live, work, and contribute to our shared prosperity.”

    Looking ahead, MHP urges state leaders to address stabilizing and preserving the housing we have and pursue zoning reforms and land use policies that unlock opportunity to create more homes more cost efficiently. In addition, capital investments, including Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIBs) will be a critical tool for ensuring new homes can be created to keep up with population and job growth. As legislative discussions begin, we are looking forward to bipartisan collaboration to ensure that Minnesota remains a leader in housing solutions that benefit all.

    Jenny Jones

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  • Minnesota’s 2025 Legislative Session Begins in Earnest

    Minnesota’s 2025 Legislative Session Begins in Earnest

    The 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session commenced today. Lawmakers are tasked with passing a balanced budget before June 1. Lawmakers must adjourn on May 19. But the Governor can summon them back for a special session if they don’t finish their work by the May adjournment deadline. Legislators face escalating political tensions in the House of Representatives and a very different budget forecast than two years ago.

    Things to watch:

    • In December, Minnesota Department of Management and Budget released the November Forecast. The forecast predicts a $616 million surplus at the end of FY26-27 (7/1/2025-6/30/2027). This forecast is $1.1billion less than previous estimates. The reduced surplus prediction is largely due to higher actual spending in health and human services and education. The forecast also projects a $5.1 billion budget deficit by FY28.
    • Going into session, the Senate is tied at 33-33.A special election in Minneapolis will break the tie later this month. Senate leaders reached a power sharing agreement over the weekend. Republican andDemocrats will share presiding officer posts and committee chair position. TheSenate named Senators Bobby Joe Champion (DFL) and Senator Jeremy Miller (R) as co-presidents of the Senate. Both parties will evenly split representation on committees. Lawmakers will likely undo the power sharing deal when one party holds a 34-seat majority.
    • First, the House was set to convene with a 67-67ntie. Leaders negotiated a power sharing deal like the temporary deal in theSenate. When a district judge ruled that Curtis Johnson (DFL) did not live in the district he was elected to represent, Republicans announced Representative Demuth would be the Speaker of the House for the two-year biennium. Republicans also announced their intention to prevent Representative Brad Tabke (DFL) from taking his seat in the House. To prevent this, Democrats boycotted the first day of session to prevent the body from establishing a quorum, which is needed to elect a speaker.  All this has led to a constitutional crisis as Republicans and Democrats don’t agree on how a quorum is reached. Today, Secretary of State Steve Simon, who presides over the first day of session, declared that quorum was not reached and adjourned session. Republicans ruled that quorum was present and proceeded to elect Representative Lisa Demuth to be House speaker. Democrats will challenge theRepublicans actions in the Minnesota Supreme Court. You can read more about it with MPR News.

    What this means for housing?

    • Committee budget targets will be much smaller than they were in 2023.
    • In the House, House Republicans will immediately get to work convening committee hearings and introducing bills. House Democrats will file a lawsuit and continue boycotting session until the courts rule on the matter.
    • In the Senate, Senator Port (DFL) and SenatorLucero (R) will co-chair the Housing Committee until a member is elected in theMinneapolis special election.

    Brian Muhs

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  • Election Reflection: Looking Forward to 2025

    Election Reflection: Looking Forward to 2025

    Thursday, November 7 · 8 – 9:30am

    Location: 451 Lexington Parkway, North Saint Paul, MN 55104 (Wilder Foundation)

    Register for the 2024 edition of MHP’s post-election breakfast! Join us for a dynamic, bipartisan panel discussion as experts from both sides of the aisle break down the election results and their impact on the future of housing! Coffee and light breakfast to be provided.

    Abou B. Amara, Jr. is legal and political analyst and attorney at Gustafson Gluek PLLC. Prior to entering legal practice, Mr. Amara worked for nearly a decade in a variety of public affairs capacities, including in Congress, the Minnesota State Legislature, and in Minneapolis City Hall.
    Amy Koch has been a commentator and political strategist at Hylden Advocacy & Law since 2016. Prior to this career, Ms. Koch served in the Minnesota Senate from 2005 to 2013. She was Minnesota’s first female Senate Majority Leader.

    Attend Virtually

    MHP is offering a virtual attendance option for individuals not based in the Twin Cities metro area.

    Brian Muhs

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  • 2024 Duluth Area Housing Forum – MN House Candidates

    2024 Duluth Area Housing Forum – MN House Candidates

    Tuesday, October 29, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

    Location: One Roof Community Housing, Duluth MN

    The Our Future Starts at Home campaign welcomes you to attend our 2024 Duluth Area Candidate Forum to hear from 2024 House Candidates about their platforms and vision to make MN a better place to call home, and their stance on long-term housing solutions.

    The event will be moderated by Tatianna Kirk of Divine Konnections, with invitiations to 2024 House Candidates of Districts 8A, 8B, and 3B.

    Sign up today and join us!

    This event is co-hosted by The Arc Northland, Center City Housing Corp., Chum, Damiano Center, Divine Konnections, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, MHP, One Roof Community Housing, and Zeitgeist Arts.

    Brian Muhs

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  • Home is a MN Value – Mankato Area Event

    Home is a MN Value – Mankato Area Event

    Tuesday, October 17, 5:30 PM

    Location: Blue Earth County Library – Auditorium

    The Our Future Starts at Home campaign welcomes you to join our Home is a MN Value – Mankato Area Event to listen to the housing experiences of our neighbors, build momentum for housing solutions statewide, and advocate for safe and healthy homes we can afford!

    The event will include storytelling, and advocacy activities with light refreshments. Hear from Community Speakers, and Featured Speakers.

    Sign up today and join us!

    This Our Future Starts at Home event is co-hosted by The Arc of MN, Beyond Plastics Greater Mankato Area, Mankato – YWCA, Southwest MN Housing Partnership, Mankato Area Zero Waste, Habitat for Humanity – South Central, and MHP.

    Brian Muhs

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  • Housing Narrative Change Project / Home Stories

    Housing Narrative Change Project / Home Stories

    Building Public Support for Housing Solutions in Minnesota

    The stories we tell about housing shape what people believe is possible — and what solutions they’re willing to support. Through the Minnesota Housing Narrative Change Project, MHP partnered with Housing Narrative Lab to better understand how Minnesotans across rural, suburban, and urban communities think and talk about housing.

    This research, conducted by Lake Research Partners, included focus groups and a statewide survey of 850 Minnesotans. The findings showed that when housing is framed around shared values, stability, fairness, and opportunity, people across political and geographic lines are far more open to solutions.

    This work laid the foundation for a broader, ongoing effort to change how Minnesotans talk about housing — not as a niche issue, but as something that affects everyone and strengthens communities. This work continues to shape how MHP and partners approach housing communications, organizing, and community-led development efforts across the state.

    The Next Chapter: Home Stories

    Home Stories is a statewide storytelling platform that lifts up real voices and builds shared understanding about housing in Minnesota. It grew out of the Narrative Change Project and is led by the Heading Home Minnesota Funders Collaborative, with MHP as a partner.

    Many of the tools and resources from this project now live on the Home Stories site, with more continuing to move there over time.

    Explore stories and tools at:
    👉 mnhomestories.com

    Resources

    Webinar: What is Narrative Change and Why Does It Matter?

    Webinar: Moving People to Action

    Webinar: Statewide Research and Findings

    Webinar: Putting It Into Practice

    Message Guide and Key Findings:

    Social Media Tools

    Click on a category to preview them!

    Horizontal Images

    Click here to download the collection of horizontal images that can be used to share narrative change messages on social media platforms.

    Square Images

    Click here to download the collection of square images.

    GIFs

    Click here to download the collection of .gifs that can be used to share narrative change messages on social media platforms.

    Videos

    Click here to download a collection of videos.

    Marisol Bello, Executive Director of the Housing Narrative Lab sat down with MHP to explain the project.

    Creating Tools for Narrative Change

    What narrative change work is happening in MN?

    Jenny Jones

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  • Slow Roll: The Housing is a Human Right Edition

    Slow Roll: The Housing is a Human Right Edition

    Thursday, August 1 • 6 – 9 pm

    Join MHP and Melanin IN Motion | The Cultural Wellness Center from MIA Bike Night.

    Whether we’re lending our neighbor a bike pump or sharing a meal, Minnesota is a place where we look out for each other. But today, many of us know all too well the struggle to find a place to live, make rent, or cover our mortgage. Stable housing should not be something you have to think about—families should be able to count on it every day.

    Join us as leaders from MHP, local housing organizations, and Team Slow Roll lead you on a (bicycle) journey of the challenges, opportunities, and innovations emerging in the housing sphere. We’ll explore a variety of solutions to the problem and what we should know to join the movement to ensure that all Minnesotans have safe, stable housing they can afford.

    Bring your bike, lived experience, and curiosity to this extraordinary social justice immersion on a roll. Slow Roll Baby!

    Need a bike? We got you! Please register for a bike (if needed) and the event soon; both bikes and riding spots are limited.

    Location: Minneapolis Institute of Arts – 2400 3rd Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404

    Agenda:

    • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Pre Slow Roll Fix Up, Pump and Bike Pick up
    • 6:00 PM – 6:15 PM Slow Roll Announcements and Theme Introduction
    • 6:20 PM – 8:15 PM Roll Out and Ride!

    Brian Muhs

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