Join This Friday’s Legislative Update with Rep. Agbaje and Sen. Boldon

Please join us Friday, March 10th at 10 a.m. to hear updates directly from lawmakers and community partners about the latest developments in St. Paul.

We are excited to be joined by Sen. Liz Boldon (DFL - Rochester) and Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL - Minneapolis). Each of these lawmakers serve as Vice Chairs of the respective housing committees. In addition to their housing-specific duties, both members serve in leadership roles for their caucuses. Additionally, Rep. Agbaje co-chairs the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) caucus.

House Ways and Mean Committee hears Emergency Rental Assistance bill

On Monday, March 6th, the House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill (HF1440) to immediately appropriate funds to FHPAP providers. The bill was amended to reduce the appropriation from $100 million to $50 million. The amendment was made so the House bill would match the bill moving through the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee will hear the bill on Thursday. MHP has been told that the House may hear the bill on the House Floor next week. The Senate could do the same. MHP is updating a bill tracker throughout session to help you stay on top of some of the key housing bills. Check out the tracker here.

Housing Chairs' unveil"All Roads Lead Back to Home" housing plan 

From left: Rep. Kaohly Her, Sen. Susan Pha, Janna Gerwirtz-O’Brien, MD (MN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics), Ben Helvick-Anderson (Beacon), Rep. Michael Howard, Sen. Lindsey Port, Sen. Erin Murphy, Rep. Esther Agbaje, House Majority Leader Jamie Long, Rev. Nancy Nord Bence (Beacon), Heather Alden (SPPS), Michael Dahl (HOME Line), Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega, Micah Coatie (MHP), Libby Murphy (MHP), Maeve Olson (Beacon), Rep. Frank Hornstein.

Last week, Housing Committee Chairs Sen. Lindsey Port and Rep. Michael Howard held a press conference on the "All Roads Lead Back to Home" proposal, advocating for $2 billion for housing this biennium. When asked about a constitutional amendment, Senator Port affirmed the need for dedicated revenue for housing. We applaud the legislators taking a stand for housing!

Join the Campaign for Housing on the Ballot!

Our Future Starts at Home is a statewide housing campaign for a constitutional amendment for housing. The goal is to ensure the state starts making the investments Minnesotans need in housing, and secure sustainable, predictable, and ongoing funding. 

It will also ensure that communities have a powerful voice in where that funding goes and that we're meeting the needs on the ground. The amendment creates three councils that will guide each of three flexible funds to make sure that Minnesotans' perspectives are central as decisions are made about what funding is needed and how to best invest in our communities.

In addition to the prescribed purposes, each fund’s strategic plan and recommended policies and monies spent must aim to: reduce disparities; support community-based solutions; improve the condition of homes; increase accessibility; and decrease energy cost and improve efficiency.

Rental Opportunity Fund 

• Provide rent support to families struggling to make ends meet.
• Create more rental homes so more Minnesotans have safe, stable place to call home

Stability Fund

• Support people facing housing instability and homelessness
• Ensure people have healthy, safe, and resilient homes

Home Ownership Opportunity Fund

 •Increase the number of homes that are affordable for ownership, including starter homes, homes for multigenerational families, households of different sizes, and accessible homes.
• Eliminate racial disparities in homeownership, ensuring Minnesotans can build wealth

QUESTIONS? Here are answers to frequently asked ones: bit.ly/CA4Housing_FAQ

Read more about the policy proposal at bit.ly/CA4Housing, follow us at @Ourhomesmn, and endorse the constitutional amendment!

Federal Budget Process for FY24 Moves Forward

President Biden is expected to unveil a high level summary of his fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request this Thursday, March 9, with more details to follow. For housing advocates, this is the formal start of the process for advocating for housing programs and policy for FY24. 

Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Increasing Affordable Housing Supply

On Tuesday, March 7th, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on tax policy’s role in increasing affordable housing supply for working families. Denise Scott (LISC), Steve Walker (Washington State Housing Finance Commission), and Sharon Wilson Geno (National Multifamily Housing Council) all provided testimony.

From left to right: Devon Pohlman (MHP), Barbara Dolan (MHP),  Kimberly Ortloff (OPEN Board President), Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin (Port Angeles City Council) Liza Searles (Executive Director), Courtney Overby (MHP)

MHP Works With OPEN Housing to Provide Housing for Adults with Disabilities 

OPEN Housing spent a snowy 1.5 days in Port Angeles, WA with MHP staff members Barbara Dolan, Devon Pohlman, and Courtney Overby on a site visit to complete a needs assessment; exchanging stories, touring properties, and diving into discussions on priorities for the organization. OPEN (Olympic Peninsula Extended Needs) was formally incorporated in 2019 and currently offers 14 units for rent at two properties in Sequim and Port Angeles. With a mission to “provide sustainable, secure, affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities and low-income others in a shared and integrated community so all can thrive,” OPEN Housing develops low-income housing for adults with disabilities (and other low-income neuro-typical adults) who are willing and able to live and thrive in a shared housing community.  

In the US, nearly 75% of adults experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities live in their family's home. On the Olympic Peninsula, that number is closer to 99%. Imagine being an adult who wants to live independently, develop social skills, and learn what it means to contribute to their community with nowhere they can afford to go. Out of every four Americans, one experiences an intellectual or developmental disability. housing adults with disabilities shapes the collective future of all of us....

Continue the story about OPEN Housing on our website.

NLIHC publishes the 2023 Advocates' Guide!

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has recently published their annual Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development Policy. This resource is designed to educate advocates about federal housing programs and policies. 

New Report: Rural Homelessness Increased from 2020 To 2022

On Feb. 21st the Daily Yonder published a report outlining the rise of homelessness in rural communities. "The number of people overall experiencing homelessness in the U.S. rose by less than 1% from 2020 to 2022, but those in rural Continuums of Care, local planning bodies responsible for coordinating the full range of homelessness services ... saw an increase of nearly 6%"

Urban Homeworks seeks an Asset Manager 

Our friends at Urban Homeworks are looking for an Asset Manager to join their Real Estate team. This person will evaluate the physical product and operations of UHW’s diverse portfolio of scattered-site affordable housing to allow the organization to make well-educated financial decisions and fulfill strategic goals.

The 2023 City of Excellence Awards

Our friends at the League of Minnesota Cities are now accepting nominations for their City of Excellence Awards. Each year these awards celebrate, every day, city officials throughout Minnesota doing outstanding work that enhances the quality of life in our communities. Entries are requested by April 17th.

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