Equity in Place (EIP) and the MN ERASE Campaign hosted a press conference to call attention to the escalating eviction crisis resulting from an end of emergency rental assistance (ERA). Calling on Governor Walz to demand the Legislature pass $330 million in ERA and connect pending applications for the new rental assistance with the existing eviction moratorium (intended to protect renters with rent arrears until June 2022), the EIP and ERASE members and supporters then delivered letters to Governor Walz’ office.
According to the National Equity Atlas, 86% of households still behind are very low-income. In MN, the percent of Black renter households behind on rent is much higher than the national average. More Black renter households are behind on rent in March than in December, indicating that the emergency rental assistance was helping renters keep up on rent. Eviction filings have soared 67% in the eleven weeks since the closure of RentHelpMN as compared to the eleven weeks before its abrupt end. In the past week alone, landlords filed over 100 evictions every business day except for one. If this approximate 100/day rate were to continue, we'd see 26,000+ evictions in a year—well over the pre-pandemic "normal" of 15,000/year.
Omnibus Agriculture and Housing Bill (HF4366) Passes Minnesota House
This past Monday, the House of Representatives passed HF 4366, the Omnibus Agriculture and Housing Bill. As the House and Senate bills are not the same, the bills will end up in conference committee where a select group of lawmakers will negotiate and compromise. House DFL members expressed support for the substantial investments across the housing continuum and policies to protect renters. Some GOP lawmakers expressed frustration that the bill does little to address the rising cost of building homes. Read more about the bill and floor debate In Session Daily.
Bring it Home Campaign Holds Rally at Capitol
The Bring it Home, Minnesota Campaign hosted a rally at the Capitol on April 19. Dozens of elected officials showed up to support a statewide voucher program. 2022 has been disappointing because Bring it Home was not included in either omnibus housing bills. However, speakers also shared optimism about the progress that was made this year to advance this monumental piece of legislation.
Join us in urging lawmakers to pass a bonding bill that includes significant housing investments. Bonds are essential resources that help create deeply affordable rental housing and single-family homes and preserve existing subsidized homes and manufactured home parks. Here is a one-pager on Bonds for Housing
As the end of the legislative session fast approaches, we have an opportunity to ensure lawmakers prioritize housing as they head into their final weeks. Let’s make sure legislative leaders know that housing is essential for Minnesotans!
Hosted on Zoom, MHP will help provide a brief training, scripts, and everything else you may need to be successful. Contact Brian Muhs at brian.muhs@mhponline.org with any questions.
USDA’s plan asserts the department’s intentions to prioritize Rural Development projects that ensure equitable access, reduce climate impacts and increase resilience, and addresses tribal access to USDA programs.
HUD's plan focuses on four topics: widening the entities it funds, fair housing, homeownership, and homelessness.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition Releases The Gap Report 2022
