Rally and Lobby Day Build Momentum for Supportive Housing
This House is Our House
The months leading up to the legislative session every year are critical to build momentum and get clear on what our community needs. Two recent events, the Start with Home Rally and Homeless Day on the Hill, gave advocates the tools they need to help jumpstart legislative excitement for supportive housing.
On February 23, more than 150 people gathered at the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda for the fourth annual Start with Home Rally.
Lt. Governor Peggy Flannagan took the stage with a poignant greeting, “Welcome to your house. You are here in your house today to ask for what communities need and deserve.” She added, “We are bonded with a simple and undeniable truth. Home is the foundation of everything.”
The program also included a rousing call and response that made the group’s intentions clear:
“Minnesota needs to…” Start with Home
“For our future…” Start with Home
“For our families…” Start with Home
“We are here…” Start with Home
A Beacon resident and supportive housing advocate, Sasha, stepped forward and shared her personal testimony: “I am here today to advocate for supportive housing because it has transformed my life and it is transforming the lives of thousands of Minnesotans right now. Supportive housing is a proven solution to homelessness, and we must protect it this legislative session.”
A Behind the Scenes, Unique Experience
Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Senator Lindsey Port spent time with advocates after the Rally to discuss the impact of federal cuts to supportive housing and the importance of reliable funding for long-term solutions.
When our advocacy efforts bring together voices from across the state and across homelessness prevention organizations, we see the power of collective action.
From Group Rally Cries to Relationship Building
The Start With Home Rally created momentum for Homeless Day on the Hill on March 11—this year focused specifically on supportive housing. Beacon joined the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless as sponsors, bringing together their communities of advocates.
This event paired legislative leaders with nearly 200 of their constituents, so advocates could personally explain to their State Senator and State Representative why this issue is important to them.
One advocate, Lauren, shared, “as a retired clinical psychologist, I learned in my work how crucial it is for families to have stable housing. If they have stable housing with supportive services, that can help children do better in school, the families work on mental health or other issues that might be part of their history, and it also makes it easier for people to have stable employment, so I truly believe everything starts with home.”
Ben Helvick Anderson, Beacon’s Director of Policy and Organizing, explains why this shared vision across many organizations matters, “We know supportive housing ends homelessness; we know supportive housing is the most effective solution. We know how both effective and fragile our system is…so we must keep reminding leaders, so they know and understand it too.”
Take action now!
Please stand in solidarity with us by emailing your legislators now to keep supportive housing in the conversation. Fill out this form to use Beacon’s suggested message or customize your own.
Our focus is clear: Protect and sustain supportive housing. Let’s be loud so our state lawmakers hear us! Join the movement by taking action now and emailing your legislators.
Advocacy work must be sustained over this legislative session as we aim to “Sustain the Gain” and keep housing solutions top of mind as funding priorities are identified this year. To stay informed and engaged, sign up for our next monthly advocacy meeting, Rent is Due, on Wednesday, April 1.
Rally Host Organizations: Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Habitat for Humanity Minnesota, Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers, Minnesota Housing Partnership, Catholic Charities Twin Cities, and Our Future Starts at Home Campaign.
Homeless Day on the Hill Host Organizations: Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative
