Minnesota Housing Partnership Candidate Questionnaire (supported by Homes for All)
Candidate responses in italics.
Name: Jeremy Munson
City/Town: Lake Crystal
Legislative District: 23B
Party: Republican
District Issues: How would you characterize the housing needs in your district, for both renters and for homeowners?
Strong housing market with growing number of housing starts but still limited access to capital, especially for self-employed. There are a limited number of rentals in my district, but there remains a strong demand for them in several communities.
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?
I support reducing construction and environmental mandates which add unnecessary construction costs thereby preventing affordable homes.
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?
I support measures to make available to builders, more options for affordable housing (see answer to #3). I also believe in educating people on making proper financial decisions, including prioritizing housing, food and transportation above discretionary spending.
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?
In addition to answers in 3&4, I will support legislation which encourages job and wage growth in Minnesota to bring opportunities for all Minnesotans to improve.
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?
I support legislation which ends State income tax on Social Security Benefits, increasing the net income of our Seniors. For all non-seniors, including students, I have authored legislation which is working to reduce health care costs, a household cost typically MORE than housing cost and which has escalated at a rate more than housing.
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?
I support equal opportunity lending and equal opportunity in housing and will always support legislation that ensures everyone, regardless of race, has equal opportunity to live or buy anywhere. I will also support financial education for those families who are seeking help building a plan for financial success.
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?
To answer, I will need more information on the financial history of the program and the success of the assistance recipients.
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?
To answer, I will need more information on the financial history of the program and the success of the assistance recipients.
