Action Alert – Ask Governor Walz to Support a Strong Housing Budget

Friday, April 25, 2025

Minnesota Legislative leaders from the House, and Senate will soon begin negotiating with the Governor to set a universal budget target. This will determine how many resources are dedicated to housing in the final state budget.

 Ask Governor Walz to support the House Budget of $75 million for housing, with $30 million for FHPAP, and $100 million in Housing Infrastructure Bonds. 

Governor Walz’s Telephone Number: 651-201-3400

Template Phone Script:

Hello, My name is [__name__] and I live/work at [___address & city___]. Please support the House’s budget for housing of $75 million, including $30 million for the Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program, and $100 million in Housing Infrastructure Bonds. Our families are facing hard times financially, and paying the rent or mortgage, including utilities, is the biggest cost for household budgets. Our Minnesota families and neighbors need help with housing more than ever

 [tell your story – why housing is this important]

Thank you,

[name, org, contact]

2025 Mid-Session Legislative Update

Friday, April 25, 2025

Friday, April 25 · 4 – 5pm

Please join us for a virtual event to hear from partners and elected officials about the status of various proposals at the MN Legislature.

MHP Investors Circle

Friday, March 21, 2025

MHP Investors Circle contributors engage housing champions in a professional network and support the mission of MHP.

MHP works collaboratively, convening broad, diverse networks and building local, statewide, and national partnerships. Our events play a critical hand in driving policy conversations in the affordable housing industry. Stay connected year-round through one-year commitments.

Five Investors Circle packages are available — we are happy to customize a benefits package to help your team meet its marketing and philanthropic goals.

Stay involved. Be part of the conversations. 

MHP Investors Circle info sheet

See Investors Circle Packet

Contact Angela McLaughlin, Deputy Director of Fund Development, with questions at angela.mclaughlin@mhponline.org. 

Yes to Homes! Action Alert

Thursday, March 20, 2025

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

A Look Into the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel 

Thursday, February 13, 2025

In March 2024, MHP began working with the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel (INSY), part of the Kumeyaay people who have lived in present-day San Diego and Imperial Counties for over 12,000 years. The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel Reservation was founded in 1893 and is located in northeastern San Diego County near Santa Ysabel and Julian. 

The Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation spans elevations from 3,200 to 5,700 feet and covers a total land area of 15,546 acres (23.4 square miles). However, only 810 acres—less than 6%—are developed. The limited development is primarily due to the rugged and steep terrain, which poses challenges for construction. Additionally, water is not readily available on the reservation. Community members often must pump and transport water from community wells. 

The Tribal enrollment totals just over 1,000 individuals, with approximately 211 people residing on the reservation across about 152 households. This remote area lacks a significant economy, leading to considerable economic challenges for the community. The per capita income is $26,407, while the median income stands at $45,000, representing a decrease of 66% compared to the national average. Additionally, around 80% of households are economically disadvantaged, often facing obstacles due to unreliable technology and transportation. 

The housing stock on the reservation is mainly composed of manufactured homes due to terrain limitations. The Housing Department, managed by one employee under the tribal administrator and council, oversees about 115 units with under $135,000 in federal assistance from the Indian Housing Block Grant. Many homes need repairs or replacement due to limited maintenance funds.  

Despite these challenges, INSY staff are motivated partners with capacity-building efforts. They sought technical assistance from MHP in the areas of Organizational Development, Housing Development, and Physical Planning. MHP and the INSY worked with a contractor to conduct a Physical Conditions Needs Assessment for 50 of the managed units of its existing housing and assisted the tribe with the PRICE grant application, which is aimed at preserving and revitalizing manufactured housing. Leveraging these two items creates a significantly positive impact for tribal members living in the tribe’s housing. 

Currently, the INSY and MHP staff are collaborating to bring training for the Tribal Council and senior staff to clarify their roles and responsibilities in January. The purpose of this training is to define the duties, powers, and limitations associated with each position, promoting effective governance and decision-making. This training and guidance aim to establish a strong foundation for governance, ensuring the well-being and prosperity of their tribal community.  

2025 Legislative Preview Event

Tuesday, February 04, 2025

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

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

Thursday, January 16, 2025

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.

Minnesota’s 2025 Legislative Session Begins in Earnest

Thursday, January 16, 2025

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.

Looking for FREE Community Development Services? Apply now!

Thursday, January 09, 2025

Is your community facing a lack of affordable housing? Do you work for an organization that could benefit from enhanced local knowledge, training, and strategic partnerships? MHP is excited to open its application for FREE technical assistance for housing and community development! View MHP’s Request for Technical Assistance (RFTA) Application here.

MHP’s renowned Strengthening Rural Communities Program (funded through an eighth-consecutive Rural Capacity Building award from HUD), delivers technical and financial assistance to rural entities and Native Nations across the country, increasing their capacity to meet current and future housing needs—at no cost to RFTA awardees. By increasing local capacity, we position beneficiaries of the assistance to achieve their unique vision and sustain housing and community development successes long after MHP’s work is complete.  

MHP has the expertise to assist with a variety of issues, including housing development, housing program development, organizational development, funding and resource development, and community engagement and outreach. Since 2014, MHP staff provided direct assistance to over 132 beneficiaries through customized and individual workplans; including assistance with 54 community development projects. The result: 577 affordable units are in the development process, with 33 new units completed, and 632 housing units have been rehabbed/preserved.. The assistance also contributed to the success of 41 businesses (including 8 new ones) and boosted their local economies.  Read about the impact of this technical assistance in just a few communities here:

Priority is given to organizations currently engaged in housing development as a part of their mission or actively working to build their housing development capacity. MHP also works with such entities as rural housing development organizations (RHDOs), local units of government and political subdivisions, tribal governments and tribal corporate entities, and CHDOs and CDCs. Statewide or state-affiliated entities are not eligible.  

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Click here to access the application directly. MHP will follow up within forty-five days to schedule a collaborative review of your application. MHP is an equal opportunity assistance provider and markets its technical assistance program to communities historically facing housing disparities. More information paper copies of all materials are available upon request.  

We want to work with you! Please reach out with any questions:

Via Phone: 651-925-5545 

Via Email: RFTA@mhponline.org 

Via Fax: 651.649.1725 

Apply for MHP’s FREE Assistance Here