Hennepin Commissioners Hear Our Case For Deeply Affordable Homes, Part 3
Throughout this month, we’ve been calling on our Hennepin County Commissioners to support the creation of Vista 44 and Emerson Village. Read our reflection blogs from these all important conversations: part 1, part 2.
Steve Briggs and Deb Carlson reflect on our final commissioner conversation which took place on April 27 with Chris LaTondresse and Kevin Anderson.
Steve Briggs and Deb Carlson are co-chairs of the Hennepin County leader team. Steve is a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Edina and has been involved with their affordable housing team for three years. Deb is a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Maple Grove and is a Beacon Board member and long-time FMF volunteer:
We have been talking with the Hennepin County Commissioners for almost a year now, discussing affordable housing issues with both candidates for office and with sitting commissioners. Our housing crisis is real. For us, it is a deep moral issue, making us even more aware and concerned about how our elected officials are dealing with the crisis of the significant lack of affordable homes in Hennepin County – especially for those at the 30% or below the AMI (area median income) level. A home is the foundation for everyone in our community. Everyone deserves a home.
We have had the opportunity to talk to and hear from all seven County Commissioners this past month in our virtual Commissioner Conversations. What a great learning experience – for all of the Beacon leaders involved with our planning team, as well as the almost 400 Beacon supporters who have joined us in these conversations. While the commissioners represent different parts of the county, and all have their own individual and unique viewpoints, we heard from all of them that they have affordable housing in Hennepin County as a priority. And they heard from us – clearly – that ensuring our neighbors at 30% AMI or below have affordable homes is a top priority.
The last of the three conversations was held this last Tuesday, and Commissioners Chris LaTondresse and Kevin Anderson joined us with nearly 100 participants from 40 different faith communities. Both Commissioner LaTondresse and Anderson were very engaged in the issue of affordable housing, particularly for those at the lowest income levels level. We heard that same message earlier from Commissioners Fernando, Lunde, Conley, Greene and Goettel.
We asked all of the commissioners a series of critical questions, including:
- Will you ask county staff what percentage of recommended projects at the 30% AMI level?
- Will you work to create intentional, specific percentage funding targets (with a minimum threshold of 50% or more) for deeply affordable housing?
- Will you ask county staff to include Vista 44 in Hopkins and Emerson Village in Minneapolis in their slate of funding recommendations?
We heard a lot of “yesses” to our direct questions, but we know our work isn’t done. We need to hold them accountable for that support. When commissioners vote on May 11, we’ll find out if the funding needed to move our deeply affordable developments forward is approved.
Write to our commissioners, call them, let them hear from us … vulnerable families in our communities need our support! Everyone deserves a home.
The time has come to vote for home and we need our collaborative. Join us on May 11 for this crucial Hennepin County vote. RSVP today.
