The 2019 legislative session is over and Homes for All is celebrating some amazing wins! Because of your hard work this session, housing was a top tier priority and received a 10 percent increase in funding–more than any other state agency! Here are the rest of the final session outcomes:

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) Request

• Challenge Program – A flexible tool used for the development and preservation of multi- and single-family housing statewide. Outcome: $5 million increase (one-time)

• Homework Starts with Home – Supports collaborative efforts between schools, housing organizations and local governments to identify, engage and stabilize students experiencing homelessness and their families. Outcome: $3.5 million base funding

• Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) – Rental assistance funding to serve adults, youth and children at risk of experiencing homelessness. Outcome: $3.5 million increase

• Bridges – Funds necessary rental assistance for adults with serious mental illness. Outcome: $500,000 increase

• Workforce Homeownership Minnesota (WHOM) – Provides funding support for statewide affordable home ownership development and rehabilitation. Outcome: $500,000 increase

• Manufactured Home Grants. Outcome: $2 million increase

Department of Human Services (DHS) Request

• Emergency Services Program (ESP) – Funds emergency shelters and homeless support programs (low barriers, etc.). Outcome: $3 million increase (one-time)

Bonding Request

• Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB) – Preservation of federally subsidized rental housing, construction of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and for Community Land Trust land acquisitions for single-family home ownership. Outcome: $60 million

That brings us to a total of $78 million in new money this session!! Not only that, the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) received an increase of $100 a month–the first increase to MFIP monthly benefits since 1986!

We could not have secured these investments in Minnesota's future without your advocacy. Thank you for spreading the word, reaching out to your legislators, rallying, and joining your voice in the call for safe, affordable housing for all Minnesotans!

While these are great wins, we were not able to get everything we asked for, such as funding increases to supportive housing for adults with serious mental illness and increased protections for tenants. For a detailed look at the work that remains, follow this link. There is much more we need to do, but we will keep up the fight until every Minnesotan has a place to call home.