Hennepin Commissioners Hear Our Case For Deeply Affordable Homes, Part 1
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 2, part 3.
Often, the most important things are the most difficult. Funding homes for people at the lowest incomes is one of those very important things. And because what we do takes all kinds of funding, it is also one of the most difficult.
On April 13, over 100 individuals registered to join us at our first Hennepin County Commissioner Conversation with Irene Fernado and Jeffrey Lunde. Together we shared our vision for home and engaged in an insightful conversation with our elected officials about home.
Beacon leader Kris Berggren, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community, reflects on this experience and what it meant for us in vision that all people have a home…
Tuesday evening’s meeting with Hennepin County Commissioners Irene Fernado and Jeffrey Lunde felt like a success. True, we’re rather have heard resounding “yeses” instead of “maybes” to our question of whether they will vote to fund Emerson Village and Vista 44 next month.
So, why a success then?
First, I am always inspired to gather with people of many faith traditions, putting our hope in action as we assert that every single one of our neighbors should, must, and dare I say WILL, have a home a home they can afford.
It took two weeks of meetings and conversations with Beacon leaders, staff, and the commissioners to plan this conversation, but it didn’t feel trite. There was real dialogue – a refreshing change from partisan politics of late.
We got to present our data-informed case that although the commissioners have begun to prioritize deeply affordable housing, an “action gap” between policy and funding persists. We discussed the deep racial disparities in the housing market and that the commissioners have the tools to address the disparities when they create such housing. And we learned about the “Equity Line”, the work to avoid displacement of existing affordable homes along future Blue Line light rail expansion. Preservation plus creation equals more homes for more people.
We’ll keep asking the commissioners to vote yes to fund Emerson Village in North Minneapolis and Vista 44 in Hopkins. The 90 homes created is a drop in the bucket of deeply affordable housing supply needed – but at least 90 families will come to the end of their journey toward stability and security that will beat fruit for years to come.
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.
