Friday, March 11, 9-10 am

Panel Discussion on A Better Building Code Report: Recommendations for Increasing Housing Resilience and Racial Equity for Minnesota Renters

Featuring:

Rep Jamie Long   Gabriela Norton

Research Manager, MHP

Join us for a discussion of MHP's recent report, "A Better Building Code." The report analyzes the potential impact the Better Building Code would have on multifamily buildings in Minnesota, with a particular focus on buildings serving households most impacted by economic and racial disparities. We examined data for four+ story multifamily buildings and interviewed renters and property owners, developers, and managers to develop the report's recommendations.

*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

On February 28, Minnesota ERASE (End Rental Arrears and Stop Evictions) held a press conference to highlight the dire need for Emergency Rental Assistance with the abrupt closure of RentHelpMN. We ask Governor Walz and the Minnesota House and Senate to allocate $300M to save thousands from eviction.

Speakers included:

• Nelima Sitate Munene, Executive Director, African Career Education & Resource, Inc.
• Shana Tomenes, Equal Justice Works Fellow sponsored by Target Corporation, Housing Justice Center
• Angela Larson, CCAP, Family Services Director, United Community Action Partnership
• Ms. Jewelean Jackson, community elder and activist, Lifetime National Ms. Kwanzaa
• Dr. Tolulope Ola, Founder & Executive Director, Restoration for All Minnesota (REFA)
• Rep Tama Theis (R) District: 14A (Statement read)
• Rep Alice Hausman (DFL) District: 66A

Minnesota ERASE member Dr. Tolulope Ola of Restoration for All is featured in the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC’s) Tenant Talk. Released on February 24, the newest issue of the newsletter, Tenant Talk: Emergency Rental Assistance at All Angles, discusses the ins and outs of ERA, examines what we have learned from its implementation, and offers a range of renter perspectives on ERA. 

Dr. Tolulope Monisola Ola (She/Her/Hers) is the Founder and Executive Director of Restoration for All Inc; a nonprofit organization with the mission to nurture and empower individuals, organizations, and communities to renew, discover and restore their culture of well-being.

Minnesota Management and Budget has announced a forecast improvement of $1.507 billion for the current biennium, leading to a revised projected general fund surplus of $9.253 billion for FY 2022-23. Anne Mavity, Executive Director of Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) responds:

“This State budget forecast that projects an increase in the already historic state surplus is an opportunity to invest in Minnesota. The Governor, House Democrats, and Senate Republicans have all expressed the desire to support Minnesota families. Housing costs are typically the biggest expense Minnesota families have, comprising 30-50% of a family’s household budget. The best way to invest in Minnesota families is by investing in housing.

Housing costs are increasing across the board, and hard-working Minnesota families need investments in housing that respond to the strain on their household budgets. It’s time to acknowledge that past incremental increases for housing have not been sufficient to support families and workers, schools and businesses, senior citizens, and health. Now, more than ever, we need to scale our investments to the actual need and demand to provide long-term positive impacts for Minnesota."

Take Action Now!

$2 Billion in Budget Targets for Housing and Homelessness

We have the means and now is the time for lawmakers to prioritize desperately needed investments. $2 billion budget targets for housing and homelessness are needed to ensure that people have access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing. 

Contact legislative leaders TODAY to ensure housing and homelessness services are a priority as targets are set for committees.

If you can only make two calls, contact:

Speaker of the House
Melissa Hortman

Phone: 651-296-4280

E-mail: rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn

House Majority Leader
Ryan Winkler

Phone: 651-296-7026

E-mail: rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn

Able to do more? Please contact these legislative leaders:

Housing Chair Alice Hausman

Phone: 651-296-3824

E-mail: rep.alice.hausman@house.mn

Housing Vice-chair Michael Howard

Phone: 651-296-7158

E-mail: rep.michael.howard@house.mn

Human Services Finance & Policy Chair
Jen Schultz

Phone: 651-296-2228

E-mail: rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn

Suggested message:

****

Dear _______: 

My name is __ and I live at [___address & city___].

With the release of the updated February forecast and a historic state surplus, I urge you to support $2 billion budget targets for housing and homelessness.

With our budget surplus, we can make a substantial impact on mitigating our housing crisis and creating a more just, equitable housing system. Please prioritize housing this legislative session!

Thank you!

****

The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on SOI Protections (HF835), when it was laid over for possible inclusion in a house omnibus bill. Materials and a video recording of the hearing can be found here. Check out MHP’s factsheet.

Last week, in the Senate Subcommittee on Property Taxes, the Department of Revenue presented on the 4d Affordable Housing Report. In 2022, lawmakers instructed DOR to study the impact of eliminating the current tiered tax rate on affordable, multifamily housing units and implementing a single .25 tax rate. Members of the 4d Coalition, including MHP, testified in favor of the proposed rate reduction, as the DOR's report indicates the change would result in nominal shifts onto other taxpayers.

Testifiers in favor of the proposal argue that the proposal meets multiple public policy goals, including: providing needed tax relief so housing providers can sustain their properties and invest resources in their tenants and their tenant's homes; incentivizing landlords to enroll in the 4d program and provide rent restricted units, which would help reduce cost burden and prevent displacement; and leveraging private and public resources to build more affordable homes. 

Over the last year, housing costs have skyrocketed and the cost of homeownership for low-income families seems more out of reach than ever. Congress will soon consider funding levels for two small, but tremendously effective, HUD programs: SHOP and the Rural Capacity Building (RCB) program. Congress needs to know that these programs work, bringing critical resources to rural communities.  

MHP has provided technical assistance to communities through the Rural Capacity building program for many years, a program which allows MHP to bring information, expertise, and resources to rural communities across the country. Find out more about MHP’s work. Here's what you can do:

Please sign your organization's name to the letter requesting support for the aforementioned programs. The letters are addressed to the Appropriations Committees in both chambers of Congress. The deadline to sign is Friday, March 11. 

A letter led by National Council of State Housing Agencies and signed by over 80 organizations nationwide urges Congressional leadership to amend the underlying statute of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) program to facilitate the use of SLFRF grants as long-term loans to Housing Credit-financed developments. 

Many Housing Credit developments are facing unexpected financing gaps, due pandemic-related rising construction costs, supply chain disruptions and workforce challenges. Current requirements for the SLFRF program make it very difficult and sometimes impossible to structure these funds in a Housing Credit development. 

Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, held a hearing on March 1, “Promoting Economic Prosperity and Fair Growth through Access to Affordable and Stable Housing.” Witnesses, such as Minnesota's Leah Hall of Three Rivers Community Action Partnership, discussed economically efficient policy solutions to attaining affordable, safe, and stable housing. View a recording of the hearing.  (Leah's testimony is at 9:45 to 11:15) 

NLIHC has released a new report, "Implementing Fact-Specific Proxy in ERA Programs: Key Considerations and Lessons Learned" which examines the use of fact-specific proxies in U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs.

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies has released a report titled “Making the Rent: Household Spending Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic," which indicates the many ways that renters tapped a range of financial resources to make rent even in the face of income lost due to the pandemic. The findings indicate that the financial impacts of the pandemic are deeper than estimates of rent arrears alone would suggest and extend beyond the households who lost income.

MHP is looking for someone interested in and committed to affordable housing that wants to start at the ground level assisting our Community Development department.

You’ll provide support for our team’s work of planning, coordinating, delivering and reporting on Community Development projects across the country. This is a very interesting and busy position! No need to live in Minnesota either—we are 100% remote.

CONTACT US