HousingMinnesota Bulletin Volume 3, Issue 10 - May 20, 2004

Thu May 20 14:21:20 CDT 2004

HousingMinnesota

Homes for All by 2012!

 The Bulletin
May 20, 2004
Volume 3, Issue 10

Distributed bi-weekly, this bulletin contains news, announcements,
legislative updates, publications, and upcoming events. We hope you'll
find it helpful in keeping you abreast of important developments. Please
don't hesitate to contact us with items you'd like included in future
issues.  The Bulletin is also available online at
http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm
<http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm> .        

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News/Announcements

2004 State Legislative Session Wrap-up

Affordable Housing Supporters Disappointed in Session Outcomes  Despite
the unprecedented energy and collaboration around some key housing
issues this session, the HousingMinnesota legislative agenda was caught
in the web of Capitol politics.  HousingMinnesota set out at the
beginning of the legislative session with four priorities:  1) pass the
$20 million bonding request for supportive housing; 2) provide property
tax relief for affordable rental properties; 3) provide additional
funding to homeless shelters and transitional housing; and 4) improve
tax increment financing for affordable housing.  All four of
HousingMinnesota's initiatives were well positioned within several
omnibus bills, but when negotiations stalled on the budget, the other
omnibus bills floundered as well. 

The legislature adjourned early Sunday morning with all major issues
left on the table-the budget was left unbalanced, the bonding bill had
still not passed the Senate falling short of the two Republican votes
needed to pass the bill, and the omnibus tax bills were not reconciled
through a conference committee process.  On Monday, May 17th Governor
Pawlenty unilaterally balanced the $160 million deficit by tapping into
the the Healthcare Access Fund ($110 million), canceling some previous
bonding projects ($18 million), increasing tax compliance ($13 million)
and by making administrative cuts to state agencies ($17 million).  The
governor has left open the possibility of calling a special session to
address unfinished business under the condition that the legislature
propose and reach agreement on a budget solution.  If a special session
is called, all of our priorities could be back on the table.

While politics are an underlying hazard of every legislative session,
people experiencing homelessness and those in need of affordable housing
paid a very high price this session.  

*         As many as 530 households experiencing long-term homelessness
will have to wait another year before the $20 million in bonding could
be used to build permanent roofs over their heads.  

*         Affordable apartments experiencing double digit, and in some
cases triple digit, increases in property taxes will not receive tax
relief and will be forced to raise rents, defer maintenance, or seek
funding from the state and other sources to maintain their financial
stability.

*         Homeless shelters and transitional housing providers will face
another year with inadequate funding, forcing them to turn away as many
as 1,000 people on a given night.  

**Action Needed**  Contact legislative leaders and the governor and urge
them to come back to the table in a Special Session to resolve their
unfinished business! People experiencing homelessness and those unable
to afford their homes cannot wait another year for key legislation to
pass!  Urge leaders and the governor to pass the bonding bill with $20
million for supportive housing
<http://www.housingminnesota.org/downloads/2004BondingFactSheet.pdf> .
Urge leaders and the govenor to pass a tax bill that provides property
tax relief for affordable housing
<http://www.housingminnesota.org/downloads/Rental_Taxes_2004.pdf> .
Click here to take action.
<http://www.housingminnesota.org/index.cfm?PageID=1>  

Looking Forward  HousingMinnesota thanks every supporter that took the
time to contact or meet with policymakers.  Your participation helped
elevate housing issues to high priority status for many legislators on
all parts of the political spectrum.  This is a critical victory for
housing supporters!  The value of laying this groundwork will be
far-reaching as HousingMinnesota supporters work this summer and fall to
educate political candidates and begin to set our legislative agenda for
next year. 

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Reading/Resources 

"Facts on Fair Housing" The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has
produced several new fact sheets designed to help fight housing
discrimination against people with mental disabilities. These
easy-to-understand materials provide useful information on integrated
housing for people with mental illnesses, handling Fair Housing Act
disability claims in the context of an imminent eviction, the burden of
proof in fair housing cases and the illegality of so-called "independent
living" requirements.
http://movingideas.c.topica.com/maab7Dpaa5OZLb44rDNb/
<http://movingideas.c.topica.com/maab7Dpaa5OZLb44rDNb/> 

Metro Trend Watch, 2004  "This research project looks at five critical
issues in which today's trends will influence the well-being of the Twin
Cities metro area for years to come:  A good start in life; Success in
school; Affordable housing; Economic opportunities; and, Safety from
crime.  These five issues offer genuine opportunities for action. These
are issues in which local efforts can make a real difference. The
purpose is not just to see what is happening, but to choose how to get
involved."  View the report at http://www.metrotrendwatch.org
<http://www.metrotrendwatch.org/> 

Minnesota Public Radio does story on loss of Section 8  "As many as
2,000 poor people in Minnesota risk losing their housing by this summer.
The federal Housing and Urban Development agency has cut the money it
spends on a rental assistance program called Section 8. Federal
officials say they're following Congress' order to cap a program whose
costs are increasing 30 percent a year. The reduction is causing local
housing officials to scramble for ways to avoid forcing people out of
their homes."  Read and listen to the story in its entirety at:
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/05/14_olsond_hud/
<http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/05/14_olsond_hud/> 

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Upcoming Events  

May 24
Southeast Minnesota Cares Meeting  6:30-8:00pm, Rochester Government
Center/City Hall, 201 4th Street SE, Room #2A-B, Rochester.  Southeast
Minnesota Cares is an informal group of citizens concerned about the
impact that program and service cuts are having on our community and
quality of life. They will be discussing and deciding on future actions
and possible forums organized by SE MN Cares members.  All SE MN Cares
events are free and open to the public.  For more information, contact
Matt Ryg, 800-728-8919 ext. 121 or mryg at mhponline.org
<mailto:mryg at mhponline.org> .  

May 25
Community Meeting on Housing and the 2004 Legislative Session
6:00-7:30pm, Ag Center, 415 South Grove Street, Blue Earth.  Moderator
Curtis Brown, Director of the City of Blue Earth Housing and
Redevelopment Authority will welcome the community, state legislators
and esteemed panelists.  Panelists and Representatives will speak about
the housing issues in the 2004 legislative session; "Just for You: Home
Buyers Classes; Partners for Affordable Housing Home Stretch Classes";
demographic data of the South Central Region, its housing burden, and
the evolving needs of the next 10 years; and local and regional projects
connected to statewide housing initiatives.  For more information,
contact Matt Ryg, 800-728-8919 ext. 121 or mryg at mhponline.org
<mailto:mryg at mhponline.org> .  

May 25
Saint Cloud Housing Forum  6:30-8:00pm, St. Cloud City Hall, 400 2nd
Street South, St. Cloud.  Local elected officials, business leaders,
service providers, and community members are invited to attend this
important discussion on the current status of housing in the St. Cloud
area.  For more information, contact Tom Goldstein, 800-728-8919 ext.
106 or tgoldstein at mhponline.org <mailto:tgoldstein at mhponline.org> .   

May 27
Moorhead/Clay County Forum: Housing and the 2004 Legislative Session
6:30-8:00pm, Moorhead City Hall, 500 Center Avenue, Moorhead.  Local
elected officials, business leaders, service providers, and community
members are invited to attend this important discussion on the current
status of housing in the Moorhead and Clay County area.  For more
information, contact Tom Goldstein, 800-728-8919 ext. 106 or
tgoldstein at mhponline.org <mailto:tgoldstein at mhponline.org> .   

June 2
Wilder Foundation Perspective Series: What a Difference an Address Makes
7:30-8:30am, Four Points Sheraton (Midway), I-94 & Hamline Avenue, St.
Paul, $10.  People well beyond Minnesota look Wilder's homelessness
research as an essential reference.  As our Governor moves ahead to end
long-term homelessness, hear from Wilder staff about who's actually in
that population and what it takes to help them stabilize their lives.
Space is limited.  For more information or to register, visit
www.wilder.org <http://www.wilder.org/> .

Various Dates
Get to Know Us Tours 2004:  More Than Housing  June 8, July 13, August
10, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14, 4:00-5:00pm,
Jackson Street Village, 1497 Jackson Street North, St. Paul.  Discover
what Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is doing to provide supportive Housing
for families, single adults and the elderly.  For more information about
the tours or to register, call Marni Harper at 651-642-2099 or email her
at mkh at wilder.org <mailto:mkh at wilder.org> .  Space is limited.  

June 17
The Hmong Odyssey  7:30-8:30am, Four Points Sheraton (Midway), I-94 &
Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, $10.  As St. Paul prepares to receive a new
wave of Hmong immigrants, meet former refugees who have already traveled
the path from Laos to Minnesota and know what it takes to build a new
life here, learn from Wilder staff who work daily with Hmong Americans
to heal the scars of trauma and loss, and find out what is being done to
help our new arrivals become engaged members of our community.  Space is
limited.  For more information or to register, visit www.wilder.org
<http://www.wilder.org/> .  

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Looking for something from the last Bulletin??   Archived issues are
available online at: http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm
<http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm>   For more information
on affordable housing, the content of this document, or if you have news
or events you would like included in future issues, please contact
Rachel Callanan , Policy Director, (651) 649-1710 x107, email
rcallanan at mhponline.org <mailto:rcallanan at mhponline.org>  or see
HousingMinnesota's website at www.housingminnesota.org
<http://www.mhponline.org/> .

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