Minnesota Housing Partnership Candidate Questionnaire (supported by Homes for All)
Candidate responses in italics.
Name: Justin Vold
City/Town: Darwin
Legislative District: 18A
Party: DFL
District Issues: How would you characterize the housing needs in your district, for both renters and for homeowners?
There is a need for more low income housing. I feel there is also a need to renovate older houses and build new housing.
Availability of Affordable Housing: More than 25% of households in Minnesota pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing, meaning they must sacrifice in other areas like food and medicine to make ends meet. What steps will you take to encourage the production of more affordable homes?
Raising the income limits on state assistance. Reducing the restrictions for people to get on to state assistance. A single payer healthcare would help free up peoples medical expenses. State assistance to help with food costs.
Workers: A full-time minimum wage worker cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment in any county in Minnesota — and many of the fastest growing jobs are in low-wage industries. What investments or policy would you champion to address the growing gap between what workers can afford and housing costs?
A higher minimum wage is needed to help fix that gap. State assistance to help qualified people and families get to homes as homeowners. State assisted reduction of interest rates, or help reducing the cost of the house (down payment assistance) to lower monthly payments.
Homelessness: A lack of affordable housing options is one of the top reasons for homelessness, for individuals or families. What will you do to end homelessness in Minnesota?
I like what Seattle is doing with Tiny housing for the homeless. Provide small modular housing as a way to get people out of the elements. I can see the state helping with small size housing not only for the homeless, but as a very inexpensive option for people.
Seniors and children: More than half of senior renters and more than 1 in 4 senior homeowners pay more than they can afford for housing. Meanwhile, children without stable, affordable housing have lower educational and health outcomes. What will you do to ensure housing policy and resources support Minnesota's seniors and students?
Push for cities to increase and maintain affordable housing, changing with the population. Need to be looking toward the future, planning to make sure we wont face further housing shortages in the future.
Racial Disparities: Minnesota's racial disparities in housing are among the worst in the nation, for renters and homeowners. For instance, 22 percent of Black households are homeowners, compared to 76 percent of white households. How will you reduce the racial homeownership gap and other disparities in housing for households of color?
Focus efforts where they are needed the most.
Rental Stability: Rental assistance is proven to reduce homelessness, housing instability, and overcrowding, but 75% of residents who qualify for rental assistance do not receive this limited resource. What will you do to expand access to housing assistance to every household that needs it?
Dedicate more funds to increase the people get assistance.
Funding: We cannot meet our growing, statewide housing needs without significant additional resources. Will you support a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing? Why or why not?
Yes, Because it is the right thing to do. I can see doing something like Colorado has done with Marijuana tax revenue to be dedicated for many projects like Homelessness, mental health, and schools.
