Minnesota’s housing crisis impacts everyone and will take all of us to solve
Written by Dylan Novacek, Content Specialist
Minnesota has an abundance of resources and gifts. From our beautiful lakes to vibrant cities, Minnesotans take great pride in where we come from. We value our communities and our neighbors. Always quick to lend a helping hand, Minnesotans know we all do better when we’re all in a place of care and stability. So, what happens when that stability is called into question?
Too many Minnesotans are on the edge of homelessness. Those experiencing homelessness can be found in every corner of the state. With scarce availability of affordable homes, families choosing to pay rent over healthcare and groceries, neighbors couch hopping, to hundreds of individuals living in outdoor encampments, Minnesota is experiencing a housing crisis that impacts everyone.
In a state with such an abundance of gifts, it’s inexcusable to allow any of us to live without a home. Minnesota’s housing crisis impacts all of us as it puts tremendous pressure on our neighbors who teeter on the edge of instability, puts a major strain on our public resources, and prevents all members of our community from participating and thriving.
Why we need to transform public policy
“One small event could push you over the edge,” shared Maddalin, a Beacon supporter and congregant from Waconia Moravian church. “I know this to be true because it happened to my husband and I twice in a four-year span. With regular bills, large medical bills, and a huge loss of income, money ran out quickly and no one was able to help us stabilize.”
Pictured: Maddalin and her husband.
The pressure Maddalin experienced has unfortunately become the norm for many everyday Minnesotans. The problem of housing insecurity extends beyond people on the street to people you probably see in your everyday life like fellow congregants, frontline workers, and next-door neighbors. In our current housing crisis, it’s very easy to find yourself without a home.
“We know the solutions to solve this crisis,” Maddalin said. “Rent subsidy, through vouchers, is one thing that can solve this crisis. But instead, it has been funded at such a level where only one in four are able to get a voucher, with many waiting years on the support they need.”
A tool that can provide a home to more Minnesotans is Bring it Home, Minnesota, a rent subsidy program that ensures all Minnesotans get the rent support they deserve. As Maddalin said, the current voucher system creates long waitlists, making families who are either on the edge of homelessness, or are already on the street, wait even longer for the support they need today.
In 2023’s legislative session, our collaborative passed the early stages of Bring it Home, Minnesota with 5,500 new rental vouchers for Minnesota families being created. For those families, this translates to fewer sleepless nights, more room in their budgets for essentials like healthy meals and prescriptions, and more time to focus on growing their stability. And although this was a fantastic step, we know there is still a long way to go to ensure every qualifying family and individual receives a voucher.
Watch this video to learn how our collaborative took action for Bring it Home, Minnesota:
“None of this is inevitable,” Maddalin said. “Families can’t wait any longer. Systems and structures need to urgently change. We need more local and state funding to be shifted to prioritize providing stable and supportive housing.”
Minnesota’s housing crisis affects families and individuals who are on the edge of instability, living paycheck to paycheck while they wait in line for the assistance they need. When advocates across our collaborative show up, we can change policies and lead the creation of deeply affordable homes.
Our housing crisis strains public resources
“The most expensive place to spend the night is in the hospital,” said Mark Miller, the Program Supervisor at Nicollet Square, homes built by Beacon with onsite support services offered by YouthLink. “Homeless individuals are using emergency rooms and hospital beds as their primary source of shelter and health care.”
Pictured: Mark with Nicollet Square resident Iyanna.
With his experience of working on the frontlines of the housing crisis, Mark has seen how strained public resources become as the problem of scarce availability and higher rents in the private market grows and worsens. The strain on these resources harms the communities we live in.
“The second most expensive place you can spend the night is incarcerated. Prisons and jails are the number one provider of mental health beds in America. More people experiencing a mental health crisis will spend the night incarcerated rather than under the care of a doctor. The cheapest place to spend the night, however, is in your own home with the services you need brought to your door.”
Through his work, Mark has connected young residents who have experienced homelessness to life changing resources including mental health care, job training, and more. Mark knows that when residents become connected to the right support, then stability follows. This allows our communities to put efforts into other needs that help us all thrive.
“This is the power of supportive housing,” he said. “This is the responsible thing to do, and the best investment of our tax dollars.”
Minnesota’s housing crisis impacts frontline workers, as well as our valuable community resources. When we fund solutions that work, like affordable supportive housing, we not only give individuals the support they need, but we also open space for our community resources to thrive.
The impact of home
“Living in my Beacon home has changed my family’s narrative from surviving to thriving,” said Amanda, a Beacon resident. “My home changed the way my whole family sees themselves. Living here has been a steppingstone for the greater. My home has allowed me to focus on the positives and helps me be a more productive community member.”
Pictured: Amanda and her family.
A mother of four, Amanda previously struggled as she lived in dangerous situations. Without a home, her kids were separated from her in shelter. Unable to find a home that was affordable and supported their needs after experiencing the trauma of homelessness, Amanda felt stuck. That all changed when she found exactly the right kind of housing she needed.
“My family is thriving now that we have access to a beautiful home in a community we love. My two oldest sons get to wake up each morning to walk to high school, my daughter can take dance classes and meet new friends, and I can care for my baby in our own home.”
Before, Amanda and her family were unable to participate in their community. Instead, their time was spent worrying about where they will get to rest their head next. Now, her sons play on the high school football team, her daughters can play at the park without a care, and Amanda can give back to her community. Empowered by her home, Amanda advocates for the creation of more homes like Cranberry Ridge, and for policy solutions to end homelessness.
Because of homes like Cranberry Ridge, more families are able to be in an affordable home with the resources they need. With more than 660 homes across the metro in operation, and more than 320 in development, Beacon is changing the landscape of home through creating housing that meets the needs of those most impacted by the housing crisis. It takes all of us to make these homes a reality.
We all have a role to play
In Minnesota, we know we’re all connected. As a collaborative of congregations united in a shared mission, we raise our voices for policy change, show up to advance the creation of new affordable homes, and work together to care for one another.
“Becoming a housing advocate doesn’t take a lot. It just takes showing up,” shared Karen Weiberg, a Beacon supporter from Nativity Lutheran Church. “What motivates me to show up is every time I see someone on the corner with a sign. I feel that in my state, there is enough so everybody should have a home.”
Watch this video to learn how Karen’s congregation got involved with Beacon:
When we take action for home, we live into our greatest values as Minnesotans. As we’ve unpacked the different ways this crisis impacts us all, we’ve uncovered the ways we can take action. Click here to learn more and get involved today.
