Thread by @uptakemn

Now covering MN House Housing Finance and Policy Committee meeting

Presentation of HF 3244, part of Homes for All Coalition agenda. Includes $400 million in housing infrastructure bonds

Currently Minnesota Housing refuses three out of four requests for money due to lack of funding

95% of public housing is over 35 years old. $180 million will help people to live in safe, healthy, and affordable housing

Now testifying: Wendy Underwood from Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis shares the importance of funding for affordable housing. Catholic Charities currently rents over 900 homes to previously unhoused people. Opening new locations soon.

Wendy Underwood: while Catholic Charities is adding 100 new units in the region, based on number of people in emergency shelters, the need remains great.

Now testifying: Sarah Harris from Aeon. Aeon is one of the largest providers of housing for high-priority unhoused people. Currently provide 6,000 homes

Sarah Harris: MN continues to lose affordable housing to developers who are buying up real estate

Aeon obtained housing bonds for two buildings that will house 162 households. One is in downtown St. Paul. Other building focused on senior residents in Big Lake area. Both will be located near transportation.

According to Minnesota NAHRO, 1/3 of public housing residents are children, many recently homeless or at high risk of homelessness

St. Paul Public Housing Agency: overview of projects aimed at home improvement, home health and safety. Subsidized home improvement projects can support jobs for local businesses and apprentices.

Rep. Aisha Gomez: Deferred maintenance in public housing is a health and safety hazard. Years ago, a public housing building in Minneapolis burned down due to lack of sprinklers. Quality public housing is a matter of life or death.

Next bill on the agenda: HF 2685, which aims to increase housing opportunities that are accessible to people who have disabilities.

Now testifying: Judy Moe, Director of the Richfield Disability Advocacy Partnership. Moe shares personal experience with disability, homelessness, and the difficulty of finding affordable, accessible housing.

Now testifying: Justin Smith, a Disability Rights Activist, shares his experience as a young person trying to find affordable housing that is wheelchair-accessible.

Meeting adjourned.