“Is the legislature done yet?”
Written by Ben Helvick Anderson, Director of Public Policy
Well, as I write this, it appears that after blowing through their first deadline in May, the legislature will pass a budget before July 1st and avoid a State Government shutdown.
So yes, this year’s legislative work to pass a budget will soon be over. But our work, as the Beacon collaborative, has only begun.
We approached this legislative session primarily as a first step in building support for Bring It Home, MN. Bring It Home, MN is a transformative policy that would allow all low-income Minnesotans the dignity to afford their home. This can happen by guaranteeing that all who need a rent subsidy, which pays the difference between what a family can afford and their market-rate rent, have the opportunity to get one.
The Bring It Home, MN bill received immense support. Over 40 Representatives signed onto the bill, and thirty-one organizations endorsed the campaign from across the state. At the bill’s first hearing, rent subsidy holders Christin and Jakima told powerful stories of the impact rent subsidies can have on a family’s life. Multiple organizations also testified and made a case for this crucial investment.
These achievements were made possible by the 732 Beacon advocates who took action or showed up in some way during this legislative session. We are proud of the support we built that laid a foundation for our next push to pass Bring It Home, MN, in the next state budget in two years.
Along with building support for Bring It Home, MN, Beacon joined Homes for All is supporting a broad agenda. Issues that Beacon was able to lean into were bonding and advocacy for Housing Support.
We celebrate that our coalition advocacy resulted in a Housing Budget bill that includes $100 million in Housing Infrastructure Bonds. These dollars will replenish the pot that Minnesota Housing awards to developers, like Beacon, to create homes for those who need them the most. Our work has made it possible for Emerson Village or Prairie Pointe to possibly be funded by Minnesota Housing this year.
Another issue we were advocating for was a push with a number of partners, led by Catholic Charities, was to increase the room and board rate for the Housing Support program. This program is a critical tool in making homes possible for people experiencing homelessness by funding their room, board, and services together. Many current and future Beacon residents utilize this program and would benefit from this increase.
We succeeded in achieving this increase, and the room and board rate for Housing Support will increase by $50 a month starting next year.
Lastly, we celebrate that the legislature and Governor achieved a compromise for a phase-out of the Governor’s eviction moratorium that allows renters time to access the abundance of emergency rental assistance made possible by the Federal Government. We are grateful for the organizations and legislators who worked tirelessly to find a way to avoid a preventable eviction crisis.
But, we know, even with all of the resources and energy spent to avoid a housing catastrophe right now, we are left with the housing crisis that existed before the pandemic. Over 500,000 Minnesotans live in homes that pay too much of their income on rent and remain close to the edge. This is why we need to pass Bring It Home, MN, a solution that addresses and solves the fundamental problem.
While the legislature will soon (hopefully) finish for the present moment, we cannot stop working and are committed to building the power to make our vision a reality, that all people have a home.
As the next step to build the power we need to win Bring It Home, MN, we are focusing the coming summer and fall on creating stronger connections within congregations. We are inviting congregations to participate in an inreach, where they hold intentional conversations between members to listen, learn, and invite.
Contact your organizer to find out how your congregation can participate:
Elizabeth Tannen – Ramsey County: etannen@beaconinterfaith.org
Emily Goldthwaite Fries – Minneapolis: egoldthwaitefries@beaconinterfaith.org
Justin Lewandowski – Scott & Carver counties: jlewandowski@beaconinterfaith.org
Drew Rindfleisch – Suburban Hennepin County: drindfleisch@beaconinterfaith.org
