In early April, Homes for All MN supporters Rochester Area Habitat, Grace House of Itasca County, CommonBond Communities, Health in All Policies, and Joint Religious Legislative Coalition hosted in-district events to show legislators the impact of investments in affordable housing, strengthen relationships between legislators and community members, and urge legislators to support the Homes for All MN agenda. Read on to see the impact of these crucial events!
Rochester Area Habitat Build Site Event - Rochester, MN
Reps. Liebling and Sauke, along with Jamie Mahlberg, a candidate for District 25A, attended an open house event at a Habitat build site. Attendees shared a light lunch, learned about the Habitat build, and interacted with volunteers and legislators. A short program highlighted Habitat's work and Homes for All's goals for the session and provided legislators a chance to address the full group. The event had major impact, garnering media coverage on KIMT and KTTC.
Pictured right: Rochester Area Habitat advocates pose at the with candidate Jamie Mahlberg (left), Rep. Tina Liebling (third from left), and Rep. Sauke (right). See more photos of the event here.
Rep. Liebling speaks to a reporter at the Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity's build site.
Grace House Beacon Hill Apartments Event - Grand Rapids, MN
Advocates gathered at Beacon Hill Apartments, a supportive housing complex constructed using Housing Infrastructure Bonds, to ask legislators to support of Homes for All. Advocates provided handouts and data to legislators, who heard from formerly homeless individuals about the impact of a stable, affordable home. Each attendee offered their thoughts on homelessness and housing issues. Beacon Hill supporters emphasized the collaborative spirit among project stakeholders, lifting up the way in which community members often work together to provide services for people in need.
CommonBond Maple Hills Apartments Event - Red Wing, MN
Senator Michael Goggin attended a thoughtful and informative meeting with staff and residents at the Maple Hills Apartments in Red Wing. During the meeting, Senator Goggin received a tour of the property, which has 96 units of affordable housing, and staff and residents discussed the need for more resources to build and preserve affordable housing. Constructed in 1971, Maple Hills is the first complex built by CommonBond. At every property, CommonBond provides life-changing supportive services to help residents meet their goals and become active participants with other residents, at churches, and in communities.
Health in All Policies Town Hall Forum - Duluth, MN
At a town hall forum with Representatives Olson and Schultz and Senator Simonson at the Glensheen Mansion, advocates urged legislators to support the Homes for All MN $140M bonding request. A full house, legislators and community members alike showed enthusiastic support for Homes for All MN's request. Attendees also discussed the need to connect affordable housing to other important factors such as living wages, accessible insurance and general community wellbeing.
Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Parent Meeting - Moorhead, MN Lakes & Prairies in Moorhead had all 3 local State Legislators attend
All three District 4 state legislators, including Representatives Lien and Marquart and Senator Eken, attended an in-district meeting with several parents of Head Start students. Parents emphasized to legislators the need to create stability for their children through affordable housing.
