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Minnesota Chapter of Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH-MN)

OSAH-MN meeting with Sophia Schilling of Senator Betty McCollum’s staff to discuss the need for rental assistance, the importance of home to health, the intersection of child protection services and home, and much more.

The Minnesota Chapter of Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH-MN) is a federal advocacy campaign working to meet the housing needs of under resourced Minnesotans. OSAH-MN is committed to organizing locally and acting at the federal level to secure the resources necessary to ensure that everyone has a home. 

  • Ready to participate In federal housing advocacy activities? Join the campaign!
  • Download OSAH-MN’s informational one-pager, including mission statement here.
  • Learn about the Opportunity Starts at Home national campaign here.

Questions about OSAH-MN? Contact Elizabeth Glidden at elizabeth.glidden at mhponline.org 

Grant Opportunities:

Small grant participation support

OSAH-MN is offering small grants of $1,000 to support the ability of organizations to participate in and influence OSAH-MN monthly meetings and/or events. Grant awards shall be prioritized to support: 

  • Black, Indigenous and People of Color led organizations
  • Organizations primarily serving/membership of Black, Indigenous and People of Color
  • Organizations empowering communities/people most impacted by housing need and housing instability
  • Organizations based in and serving Greater Minnesota and/or rural communities.

The application is open until grant funds are expended.

Resources for Federal Advocacy:

  • Virtual Training (30 min) on “How to Be an Effective Advocate”:

Engaging with federal candidates; Housing Questions 2022

Engaging with candidates during election season is a great way to ensure they prioritize housing issues. Utilize these suggested questions to ensure a housing question is asked in every forum and town hall or in one-on-one engagement with candidates.

  • Find your legislative district and 2022 candidates by looking up your sample ballot here.
  • Housing Questions 2022 here

MN-OSAH Highlights

  • Webinar: Federal updates and advocacy training (06/14/22), Presentation slides (PDF): here, Recording: here.
  • Participated in June 7 national day of action for federal housing advocacy
  • Organized a virtual Capitol Hill day on March 24, coordinating meetings for 30 advocates with Senator Smith and staff from the offices of Congresswoman Craig, Congresswoman McCollum, and Congressman Stauber.  
  • Letter urging the Minnesota Congressional Delegation support robust housing investments in a reconciliation bill (02/01/22).
  • Letter to the Minnesota Congressional Delegation in support of Housing in an Infrastructure Bill (10/14/22).
  • Letter urging Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation to allocate the highest possible funding for housing purposes in the forthcoming economic recovery bills. (9/23/21)
  • Letter to Minnesota Members of Congress to support the HoUSed Campaign. (5/23/21)
  • Federal Housing Advocacy Webinar (3/26/21), Presentation slides (PDF): here, Recording: here, Meeting Chat (PDF): here.
  • Webinar: on effectively engaging your congressional delegation on housing issues (10/20/20). Presentation slides (PDF): here, Recording: here
  • Letter urging the Minnesota Congressional Delegation support emergency housing assistance, a national uniform moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, unsheltered homelessness. (7/15/20)
  • Letter to Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation with the National Campaign’s COVID-10 Round 4 Recommendations. (4/8/20)